Tech Investment to Create “Cutting-Edge” Workers’ Comp System
More money is being pumped into the technology running workers’ compensation programs for federal employees, potentially speeding up processing times, payment schedules, and allowing injured employees to get back to work sooner.
The Department of Labor (DOL) received a $42 million investment from the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) to improve its workers’ compensation system, which is nearly 20 years old and “in need of a major upgrade.”
The technology, the Integrated Federal Employee Compensation System (or iFECS), will be upgraded into a cloud-based system that will be “cutting-edge.”
DOL says the upgrade will vastly improve the system, allowing for faster claims processing, more timely treatment with covered medical expenses, and improved outcomes for a fuller recovery and faster potential return to work for federal employees.
“Modernizing iFECS directly benefits federal employees, such as firefighters and postal carriers, who provide the government services we rely on. This supports the department’s mission to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of America’s workers, job seekers and retirees,” DOL said in a blog post.
Modernization also allows for increased protection of sensitive data including employee health records. DOL says it will also improve the customer experience through automation and modernization.
“IFECS services the entire federal government as the processor of all workers’ compensation claims filed by federal workers,” said Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) Deputy Director Nancy Griswold. “As such, improvements in iFECS that will allow for the faster processing of claims will have an impact not only on the claimants themselves, but also their federal employers, as studies have shown that faster payment of claims results in a faster return to work for many claimants.”
OWCP currently processes $48 million in compensation payments each week.
The $42 million is the sixth TMF investment into DOL. DOL did not give a timeline for when work on the new workers’ comp system will be completed.