§ 10116.1. Filing and Reporting Requirements.

(a) “Electronic Adjudication Management System” or “EAMS” means the computer case management system used by the Division of Workers' Compensation to electronically store and maintain the Division of Workers' Compensation or appeals board's case files and to perform other case management functions.

(b) All forms, documents or correspondence submitted to the Retraining and Return to Work Unit shall be signed by the filing party and stored in the EAMS:

(1) Except for documents or forms which open a Retraining and Return to Work Unit file, all documents and forms shall contain a case number assigned by the Division of Workers' Compensation.

(2) Case opening documents shall be assigned a case number by the Division of Workers' Compensation after filing where no case number has been previously assigned for the date of injury alleged by the injured worker. The case number shall be preceded by the prefix “VOC” for cases governed by Article 7 of these rules and “RSU” for cases governed by Article 6.5 and 7.5 of these rules. If a case number has been previously assigned by the Division of Workers' Compensation, the prefix “VOC” or “RSU” shall precede the assigned case number on a form or document filed with the Retraining and Return to Work Unit. Documents or forms filed in existing cases without a case number will be returned to the sender with instructions for proper filing.

(3) All documents presented for filing shall conform to the requirements of sections 10217, 10228 and 10232 of title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.

(4) The Division of Workers' Compensation shall scan all documents and forms filed into the EAMS case file and then the paper document or form will be destroyed not less than 30 business days after filing. A properly filed form or document shall be deemed a legal filing for all purposes.

(5) The service of all documents and forms shall conform to the methods of service described in section of 10218 of title 8 of the California Code of Regulation.

(c) All required notices, any documents or forms shall be sent to the employee and his or her attorney, if any, on a timely basis by the claims administrator in the form and manner prescribed in section 10218 of title 8 of the California Code of Regulation. Failure to provide notices timely shall subject the insurer, third party administrator or self-insured employer to administrative or civil penalties. The notices are timely when sent according to the requirements of sections 9813, 9813.1 and 9813.2 of title 8 of the California Code of Regulation.

HISTORY

1. New section filed 11-17-2008; operative 11-17-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 47).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133, 139.48, 139.5, 4658, 4658.5 and 5307.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 139.5, Labor Code; Godinez v. Buffets, Inc. (2004, Significant Panel Decision) 69 Cal. Comp. Cases 1311; and Vulean Materials Co. v. WCAB (2006, Writ Denied) 71 Cal. Comp. Cases 1346.