Injured Workers Complain Agency Unresponsive, Falsifies Claim Files
Friday, June 24, 2016 | 0
Several workers complained Wednesday to a legislative oversight committee that the North Dakota worker’s compensation program is unresponsive and even lies in claim files, the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported.
“It’s like I was just ignored,” Tammy Kivley, a Fargo resident with a disabling knee injury, testified before the North Dakota legislature’s Workers’ Compensation Review Committee.
The committee called the forum to take public input on how to reform the workers’ compensation system. Sen. George Sinner, D-Fargo, said he’s heard other workers complain about a lack of responsiveness from the agency, called Workforce Safety & Insurance, the newspaper reported.
Bryan Klipfel, director of WSI, denied the workers’ accusations and noted that the agency handles more than 21,000 claims a year.
“We work very hard,” he said, adding in response to complaints of falsified documents being placed in claim files: “That’s a credibility, trust issue. Our claims adjusters do a very good job.”
Troy Loberg, a Cass County resident whose shoulder was crushed while he was working on a rail car, said his adjuster was supposed to contact him every month but was unresponsive for more than two years. Loberg complained of being harassed by private investigators hired by WSI to surveil him.
After Tim Wahlin, WSI chief of injury services, testified that claims adjusters log all claimants’ calls and try to respond with 24 hours, Loberg objected.
“They don't return calls,” he said. “That is false, false. They keep you in the dark. No compassion from these people.”
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