Dual Role Assessors providing advice for Initial Entitlements and On-going Entitlements

Anthony Jordan made this Official Information request to Accident Compensation Corporation

The request was partially successful.

From: Anthony Jordan

Dear Accident Compensation Corporation,

Dual Role Assessors

Please provide the following

1/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ i.e. assessors Employed/Contracted by the corporation, to provide medical advice based on forwarded medical records/reports/assessments relating to claimant’s specific claim numbers for the purpose of eligibility of Lost Earnings entitlements

2/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide assessment reports for eligibility of Vocational Independence entitlements

3/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide assessment reports for eligibility of Rehabilitation entitlements

4/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide assessment reports for on-going Lost Earnings entitlements

5/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role assessors’ to provide assessment reports for on-going Rehabilitation entitlements

6/ Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role assessors’ to provide assessment reports for on-going Vocational Independence requirements

7/ When the Corporation or Branch Medical Advisor deem it necessary to have a claimant referred to ‘an appropriately qualified’ assessor, who’s jurisdiction and expected qualification of referrer, does this belong to ensuring the claimant is being referred to the most qualified and ‘appropriate’ assessor

8/ For years 2002 through to 2012 how many ‘dual role assessors’ have been employed/contracted (provided in 12 month bands)

9/ Qualification of the ten most used assessors (Individual names not sought) i.e. (by percentage of reviews referred to assessor by Corporation), that play a dual role position to the Corporation for years 2005-2012 (in twelve month bands)

10/ Please provide policy/legislation changes and/or considerations made in the past five years to address any concerns by the wider New Zealand public of rights to selecting an assessor of equal or more qualification as recommended by any Corporation contracted Party/Specialist

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Jordan

Link to this

From: Stephanie Lewis
Accident Compensation Corporation

Good morning Mr Jordon,
 
Thank you for your email of 25 November 2013, asking for the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):

1.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ i.e. assessors
Employed/Contracted by the corporation, to provide medical advice based on
forwarded medical records/reports/assessments relating to claimant’s
specific claim numbers for the purpose of eligibility of Lost Earnings
entitlements

2.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide
assessment reports for eligibility of Vocational Independence entitlements

3.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide
assessment reports for eligibility of Rehabilitation entitlements

4.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role Assessors’ to provide
assessment reports for on-going Lost Earnings entitlements

5.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role assessors’ to provide
assessment reports for on-going Rehabilitation entitlements

6.       Does the Corporation use ‘Dual Role assessors’ to provide
assessment reports for on-going Vocational Independence requirements

7.       When the Corporation or Branch Medical Advisor deem it necessary
to have a claimant referred to ‘an appropriately qualified’ assessor,
who’s jurisdiction and expected qualification of referrer, does this
belong to ensuring the claimant is being referred to the most qualified
and ‘appropriate’ assessor

8.       For years 2002 through to 2012 how many ‘dual role assessors’
have been employed/contracted (provided in 12 month bands)

9.       Qualification of the ten most used assessors (Individual names
not sought) i.e. (by percentage of reviews referred to assessor by
Corporation), that play a dual role position to the Corporation for years
2005-2012 (in twelve month bands)

10.   Please provide policy/legislation changes and/or considerations made
in the past five years to address any concerns by the wider New Zealand
public of rights to selecting an assessor of equal or more qualification
as recommended by any Corporation contracted Party/Specialist

 
Before ACC can commence work on your request, the Corporation requires
some clarification of the information you are seeking. Section 12(2) of
the Act requires that a request be made with due particularity. Could you
please clarify what you mean by a 'dual role assessor'.  If ACC has not
heard from you by 5pm, Friday 29 November 2013, it will endeavour to
interpret what you mean and respond accordingly.
 
Kind regards

       
Stephanie Lewis, Advisor, ACC
 
Tel (04) 816 7400 / ACC / Government Services / Justice Centre /
    Level 7 / 19 Aitken Street
PO Box 242 / Wellington / New Zealand / [1]www.acc.co.nz
 
    ACC cares about the environment – please don’t print this email
unless it is really necessary. Thank you.

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.acc.co.nz/

Link to this

From: Anthony Jordan

Dear Stephanie Lewis,

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify. Please note clarification.

Dual Role being where ACC provide a medical professional with claimants information and medical professional subsequently provides medical opinion upon request by ACC for the purpose of medical treatments and/or various entitlements and/or various recommendations. (without Physical Examination)

and

also conduct Assessments and/or Medical examinations with subsequent reports for the purpose of further medical treatments and/or various entitlements and/or future/ongoing recommendations (in the interests of the claimants Vocational well-being and Independence etc) (with Physical Examination)

An example of this could be a contracted advisor, such as a BMA, also acting as a assessor for the Corporation providing Independence Allowance, Sensitive Claims, Vocational Rehab, Occupational Rehab etc assessments (Both non claimant contact and physical contact with claimant)

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Jordan

Link to this

From: Stephanie Lewis
Accident Compensation Corporation


Attachment Notification of time extension.pdf
769K Download View as HTML


Good afternoon Mr Jordan,
 
Please find attached a letter notifying you that ACC needs more time to
complete your request.
 
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
 
Kind regards,

       
Stephanie Lewis, Advisor, ACC
 
Tel (04) 816 7400 / ACC / Government Services / Justice Centre /
    Level 7 / 19 Aitken Street
PO Box 242 / Wellington / New Zealand / [1]www.acc.co.nz
 
    ACC cares about the environment – please don’t print this email
unless it is really necessary. Thank you.

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.acc.co.nz/

Link to this

From: Gabby Boag
Accident Compensation Corporation


Attachment Jordan A Reply Prov Some Info 280114.pdf
3.3M Download View as HTML


Dear Mr Jordan
 
On behalf of ACC, please find attached the response under the Official
Information Act, to your request of 25 November 2013.
 
Yours sincerely

       
Gabby Boag, Senior Advisor Government Services, ACC
 
Tel 04 816 - 4700
    ACC / Governance, Legal, Policy, and Research: Justice Centre 19
Aiken Street Thorndon
  PO Box 242 / Wellington 6140 / New Zealand / [1]www.acc.co.nz
    ACC cares about the environment – please don’t print this email
unless it is really necessary. Thank you.

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.acc.co.nz/

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Accident Compensation Corporation only: