Policy
and Procedure Name:
|
Signature
Requirements on Applications
|
Policy
#:
|
CP-19-05
|
Code/Rule
Reference:
|
R.C.
1306.01; O.A.C. 4125-1-02
|
Effective
Date:
|
10/12/2018
|
Approved:
|
Kevin R.
Abrams, Chief Operating Officer
|
Origin:
|
Claims
Policy
|
Supersedes:
|
Signature
Requirements on Applications policy and procedure dated 05/24/17.
|
History:
|
Rev.
05/24/17; New 04/08/2013
|
I.
POLICY PURPOSE
The
purpose of this policy is to ensure that claim services staff are informed of
the required signatures on applications and the appropriate action to take when
a required signature is missing.
II.
APPLICABILITY
This
policy applies to all claim services staff involved in the processing of
applications.
III.
DEFINITIONS
Application: A form or other means
of communicating to BWC the following:
1. Requests:
Communications requesting an initial or subsequent action be taken.
Examples:
a. Application for Payment
of Lump Sum Advancement (C-32);
b. Request for Temporary
Total Compensation
(C-84);
c. Motion (C-86).
2. Authorizations:
Communications that serve to grant permission.
Examples:
a. A Power of Attorney;
b. Injured Worker
Authorized Representative (R-2);
c. Authorization to
Receive Workers’ Compensation Check (C-230); or,
3. Agreements:
Communications that serve as a contract between the parties.
Examples:
a. Settlement Agreement
and Application for Approval of Settlement Agreement (C-240);
b. Rehabilitation
Agreement (RH-1).
Electronic signature: An
electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a
record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign a record.
Signature: Any symbol executed or
adopted with the intention to indicate knowledge, approval, acceptance, receipt
or obligation. In most cases this will be an individual signing his or her name
to a document, but may include stamped signatures and various forms of
electronic acknowledgement.
Subject-Matter Specific Policy: A
BWC policy that addresses a particular topic and may include specific direction
and requirements for the signatures required on related applications (e.g., Medical
Evidence for Diagnosis Determinations).
IV.
POLICY
A. It is the policy of BWC
to ensure all submitted applications are signed by the appropriate individual, consistent
with the applicable subject-matter specific policy or the instructions on the
applicable form.
B. To the extent a subject-matter
specific policy or form does not exist or does not address signature
requirements, the signature requirements of this policy shall apply.
C. General Application
Signature Requirements:
1. Requests shall be
signed by the party or individual seeking the benefit of the request (e.g., the
injured worker (IW) must sign a Request for Temporary Total Compensation
(C-84) form).
2. Authorizations shall be
signed by the party or individual making the authorization (e.g., the IW is the
only individual that can authorize an attorney as the IW’s representative).
3. Agreements shall be signed
by the parties to the agreement (i.e., those parties or individuals that intend
to be bound by the agreed terms).
D. Unless a subject-matter
specific policy provides otherwise, an application not signed by the appropriate
party or individual shall be dismissed.
E. It is the policy of BWC
to accept documents that are scanned, faxed, photographed, or otherwise electronically
submitted, and which contain an image of the hand-written signature of the
appropriate party or individual.
F. BWC may accept electronic
signatures on applications when the electronic signature is submitted in a
manner expressly provided for and approved by BWC or the Industrial Commission
(IC) (e.g., when an injured worker (IW) signs into his or her e-account at BWC's
website
and submits a BWC form).
G. It is the policy of BWC
that if a party is physically unable to provide a signature but is otherwise
competent to act on his/her own behalf:
1. BWC will accept any
mark (e.g., an “x”) the party is able to produce; or
2. If the party cannot
physically provide any type of signature, another person may sign on behalf of
the party, with a statement that the party is physically unable to sign. BWC
will contact the party to validate any such signature;
V. PROCEDURES
A. When claim services
staff receives an application, he or she shall review the application to confirm
it has been properly signed by the party or individual whose signature is required
by:
1. Law (primarily Ohio
Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code);
2. The subject-matter
specific policy;
3. The instructions on the
form, as applicable; or
4. Absent a subject matter
specific policy or form, this policy.
B. Claim
services staff shall attempt to contact a party whenever there is a missing
signature or the validity of a signature is in question. Claim services staff
shall:
1. Request a properly
signed document if the required signature is missing;
2. Verify that the
signature in question was provided by the party indicated; or
3. If the application was
signed by another individual with the indication the party is unable to sign,
verify that the party is in agreement and aware that the other party signed on
his/her behalf.
C. Absent
subject-matter specific policy instructions to the contrary, if claim services
staff is unable to obtain a properly signed application after making reasonable
attempts to do so, BWC shall dismiss the application.