Physical Rehabilitation and Facility Certification

The goal of this program is to restore the injured employee, as quickly and as nearly as possible, to a condition of self-support and maintenance as other able-bodied workers, through physical rehabilitation.

The Division's supervision of physical rehabilitation is limited to seriously injured workers and authorizing payment from the second injury fund for additional benefits. Serious injuries that may qualify include, but are not limited to, quadriplegia; paraplegia; amputation of the hand, arm, foot or leg; atrophy due to nerve injury or non-use; back injuries not amenable alone to recognized medical and surgical procedures, severe crushing injuries and severe burns.

Only those seriously injured employees receiving physical rehabilitation in a facility certified by the Division are entitled to the additional benefits. This does not mean these employees cannot be rehabilitated in other facilities. It does mean that if they are rehabilitated in other facilities they cannot receive the Second Injury Fund benefits. To be certified, the facility must meet criteria and specifications for function, personnel, equipment, quality, and facility adequacy. The Division has recently updated the criteria for certification of compliance to current professional standards. Presently, there are approximately 200 facilities certified by the Division in Missouri.

The physical rehabilitation program staff investigates and determines the employee's eligibility to receive benefits. Over 1,200 new Report of Injury forms are reviewed each week to identify those injured employees who may qualify for the additional benefit. When the employee meets the criteria and is receiving services from a certified facility, the Director issues an order for physical rehabilitation and authorizes $40 in weekly payments to be paid to the employee from the second injury fund for up to 20 weeks.

In unusual cases, benefits may be provided for longer than the specified 20 weeks by special order. Benefits are paid to the employee only while actually being rehabilitated. The program averages 150 active cases. Each of these cases requires some type of action on a weekly basis. The rehabilitation facility is required to submit progress reports every two weeks while the employee is receiving therapy. The unit works closely with attorneys, employees, insurers, case managers and therapists.

For more information about rehabilitation programs and workers' compensation, call (573) 526-3876.

Vocational Rehabilitation

The Division of Workers' Compensation also includes a voluntary program employers may use to provide vocational rehabilitation to severely injured employees. The employee must have sustained an injury of sufficient severity arising out of and in the course of employment. The employee may receive vocational rehabilitation services, if authorized by the employer, that are reasonably necessary to restore the employee to suitable and gainful employment.

The Division has the responsibility to ensure qualified practitioners and facilities are available and have the capability of providing the appropriate rehabilitation services for the injuries sustained. The Division also has the responsibility of reviewing the written plan of care to ensure the goal of returning the employee to gainful employment is being implemented. To conserve resources and reduce duplication of services, an interagency agreement exists with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide these services.

Contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Vocation Rehabilitation, Central Office at (573) 751-3251 for information regarding eligibility to receive vocational rehabilitation services.