Workers' Comp First Aid: The Facts

First Aid is any one-time treatment, and follow-up visit for the purpose of observation of minor scratches, cuts, burns, splinters and so forth, which do not ordinarily require medical care. Such one-time care is considered First Aid even though provided by a physician or registered professional personnel. [California Code of Regulations, Chapter 7, Article 2,14311(c)].

To control the costs of First Aid injury, you may instruct the medical provider to forward the medical report and billing statement directly to you. This action will not affect your experience modification (x-mod).

Since a physician's first report must be filed on all industrial injuries, workers' compensation laws request that the report be filed with the Division of Labor Statistical and Research (DLS&R). You will be responsible to mail the physician's first report to DLS&R, P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco, CA 94142-0603.

If State Fund receives a billing statement or the physician's first report, State Fund will contact you to verify payment of the First Aid injury. The statement and report will be returned to the medical provider to be redirected to you if you agree to pay for the First Aid injury. Otherwise, State Fund will assume the responsibility for the payment. However, if your employee needs additional care or loses time from work, it is no longer considered First Aid. The employee claim form and employer's report should be completed and forwarded to State Fund. By your authorization, you will be reimbursed for the First Aid costs as soon as the claim is processed.