Return to work case conferences

Purpose

The purpose of a return to work case conference is to bring together, in a collaborate setting the injured worker, their treating health practitioner, the agent, occupational rehabilitation consultant and where appropriate, the employer, to support recovery and return to work goals.

The return to work case conference

• compensates a treating health practitioner for their role in facilitating recovery and return to work
• supports communication and engagement between the practitioner, injured worker, employer, agent and/or occupational rehabilitation consultant
• provides an avenue to clarify return to work and/or treatment goals by seeking information about the worker's capacity to participate in suitable employment

Typically, a return to work case conference will be requested by an agent or the occupational rehabilitation consultant however, a treating health practitioner can request a case conference by contacting the agent or the occupational rehabilitation consultant directly.

The following applies for all return to work case conferences:

• Fees payable are for a 30 minute case conference.
• Each attending treating health practitioner may be paid for their attendance e.g. where the chiropractor and GP attend.
• Treating health practitioner attendance may be in person or virtual, however, either the agent or occupational rehabilitation consultant must be in attendance at the return to work case conference.
• return to work case conferences are not approved for contact between treating health practitioner's where the agent or occupational rehabilitation consultant is not present.

Case conference item numbers

Providers should refer to the relevant fee schedule for their profession for the maximum fee payable (excluding GST).