Section 296-15-360. Qualifications of personnel—Certified claims administrators.

(1) What is a certified claims administrator? An experienced adjudicator who has been certified by the department to meet the requirements of WAC 296-15-350(2).

(2) How do I become a certified claims administrator for self-insured claims?

(a) Have a minimum of three years of experience, at least twenty hours per week, in the administration or oversight of time loss claims under Title 51 RCW. The experience must have occurred within the five years immediately prior to your filing of the application to take the "self-insurance claims administrator" test;

and

(b) Take and pass the department's "self-insurance claims administrator" test.

After passing the test, you are designated a certified claims administrator. The initial certification is valid for five years.

(3) How do I receive approval to take the test? To be approved to take the "self-insurance claims administrator" test, you must apply using the department's online data base no less than forty-five days prior to the next scheduled test date.

The department will review your application and determine if you meet the minimum requirements to take the test. We will respond to your application no less than fourteen days prior to the next scheduled test date.

(4) What happens if I fail the test? You may retest six months after the failed test.

If you are a certified claims administrator and you fail the test, your certification will be terminated until you retest and pass.

(5) How does a certified claims administrator maintain their certified status beyond the initial five-year designation? A certified claims administrator may maintain certified status by:

(a) Retaking and passing the "self-insurance claims administrator" test as outlined in subsections (2) and (3) of this section;

or

(b) Remaining employed for a minimum of three of the last five years in the administration or oversight of claims under Title 51 RCW;

and

Earning the required continuing education credits as outlined in subsection (6) of this section;

and

Applying to the department for renewal.

(6) What is required if I choose to maintain my certified status using continuing education credits?

(a) You must earn a minimum of seventy-five credits and submit your renewal application prior to lapse of the certified status. Extensions will not be granted.

Credits must be earned in the following categories:

(i) Forty claims management credits, defined as:

Instruction on any complex claim adjudication activity that is geared to an experienced adjudicator, containing information that goes beyond known, common everyday practices, including instruction on complex medical issues related to the adjudication of claims under Title 51 RCW;

and

That is not specific to the legal category.

(ii) Twenty legal credits, defined as:

Instruction on any recent changes to: Title 51 RCW, the Washington Administrative Code, significant board decisions, and case law. "Recent" will generally be considered decisions and changes that occurred within the eighteen-month period prior to course submittal.

(iii) Fifteen general claims education credits, defined as:

Instruction on common everyday claims and related practices such as refresher classes, industry specific training, safety, and injury prevention courses. For this category only, credit will be awarded one credit for every hour of instruction.

Excess claims management or legal credits may be applied toward the general claims education credit requirement.

The seventy-five credits must include any training designated as mandatory by the department. If you fail to earn sufficient continuing education credits, you will be required to retake the written test to maintain your certified status.

(b) Assignment of course credit will be determined by the curriculum review committee as follows: A maximum of one credit per hour of training will be awarded if all of the material submitted meets the definition of that category. Credit will be assigned based on 0.5 increments; no credit will be awarded for increments less than 0.5. The curriculum review committee's decision will be final.

(c) Courses approved for elective credits prior to the effective date of this rule change will be applied as general claims education credits.

(d) You must track and report earned credits at the department's online data base. You must obtain and retain signed verification of courses attended. Verification of earned credits must be received by the department by the date the certified claims administrator's certification expires. Extensions will not be granted.

(e) The department may audit the reported credits of any certified claims administrator at random, or "for cause." Falsification of reported credits will result in revocation of the individual's certified claims administrator status, and may result in the department's refusal of future applications to take the self-insurance claims administrator test.

(7) How often must certified claims administrators notify the department of changes to their contact information? Certified claims administrators must notify the department within thirty calendar days of the effective date of a change in mailing address, work location, or name. Changes must be reported using the department's online data base.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.14.030. WSR 14-02-121, § 296-15-360, filed 1/2/14, effective 2/2/14; WSR 12-03-088, § 296-15-360, filed 1/17/12, effective 2/17/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.14.020, 51.32.190, 51.14.090, and 51.14.095. WSR 07-17-162, § 296-15-360, filed 8/22/07, effective 10/1/07; WSR 06-06-066, § 296-15-360, filed 2/28/06, effective 4/1/06.]

RCW 51.04.020, 51.14.030. WSR 14-02-121, § 296-15-360, filed 1/2/14, effective 2/2/14; WSR 12-03-088, § 296-15-360, filed 1/17/12, effective 2/17/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.14.020, 51.32.190, 51.14.090, and 51.14.095. WSR 07-17-162, § 296-15-360, filed 8/22/07, effective 10/1/07; WSR 06-06-066, § 296-15-360, filed 2/28/06, effective 4/1/06.

Rules

296-15-350,