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If you have suffered a workplace injury or illness, you may be eligible for
workers’ compensation benefits. Workers' compensation benefits provide
protection for employees relative to medical expenses and loss of salary
resulting from an occupational injury or illness. Basic protection is provided
under the Workers' Compensation Law. You may have already received medical
treatment. If you haven’t, you should seek medical care as soon as possible and
review the following guidelines.
What to do if you sustained a work related injury or illness?
For New York State government employees of the State University of New York
represented by UUP, Management Confidential, CSEA, PEF, PBANYS, and MC Classified
Service:
- Call the ARS (Accident Reporting System) toll-free number, 1-888-800-0029, to report a work-related injury or illness.
Effective 1/1/2011, Call Center hours are 8 a.m. - 9 p.m., Monday-Friday and
the Center is closed on State holidays. Callers may leave a message
after hours and on weekends and holidays. A Call Center representative
will return your call the next business day in order to report the injury or
illness and obtain an ARS incident number.
- ARS will record your injury or illness quickly and confidentially. Write down the incident number the ARS Call Center gives you.
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Get medical help if you need it. Tell your doctor that your injury or illness is work-related.
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Report your injury or illness to your supervisor and complete an
Injury/Illness
Report.
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If you have any questions, please contact Human Resource Management at 878-4822
or 878-4821.
Why Call ARS?
- Your call to ARS helps make sure all your workers' compensation benefits are available to you as soon as possible. Depending on the nature of your injury or illness, benefits may include medical treatment, wage replacements, leave usage and other benefits.
- Your call to ARS helps reduce administrative costs by handling much of the work load
and tracking injuries and illnesses.
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Pharmacy Benefits: The New York State
Insurance Fund has entered into an agreement with Express Scripts Inc., a
Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM), which has a network of pharmacies to make
available the medications workers may receive for their work-related injury or
sickness.
Express Scripts network pharmacies will bill
The
New York State
Insurance Fund directly. You will
not have to pay out-of-pocket costs for medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
When I call the ARS toll-free number to report my work-related injury or illness, is that all I have to do?
No, you must also report your injury or illness to your supervisor and Human
Resource Management as soon as possible.
What if I am seriously injured and can't call to report the injury?
The report to the ARS Call Center can be made by a supervisor, co-worker or a family member.
Will the ARS Call Center be able to answer questions about Workers' Compensation benefits?
No, the ARS Call Center is only for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses. Call Human Resources at
878-4821 for benefit information.
How do I obtain medications for my workers' compensation claim?
Visit the workers' compensation
pharmacy benefits web page for details.
How do I find out about the status of my Workers' Compensation claim?
The ARS Call Center will give you an incident number when you report the injury or illness. When you call Human
Resource Management about your claim, use your incident number. Who is our workers' compensation insurance
carrier?
The State Insurance Fund, 225 Oak Street, Buffalo, NY 14203,
851-2000.
What should I do with medical bills
received related to my injury?
Do not pay your doctor or hospital. Those bills are paid by The
State Insurance Fund unless the Board disallows your case.
Forward any medical bills related
to the accident to Human Resource Management or instruct your physician to forward the
bills to The State Insurance Fund.
What if I am absent for one cumulative year?
Employees absent for one cumulative year due to occupational injury or illness
may be terminated from State service under Section 71 of the Civil Service Law,
which also provides certain re-employment rights if the employee subsequently
recovers.
Fraud Statement on Workers' Compensation
Any person who knowingly with intent to defraud makes a materially false statement, or conceals a material fact to obtain a benefit, shall be guilty of a crime and subject to fines and imprisonment. Report suspected Workers' Compensation fraud to:
Workers' Compensation Fraud,
Inspector General's Office,
(518) 473-4839, or
Workers' Compensation Fraud, Inspector General,
New York State Workers' Compensation Board,
100 Broadway-Menands,
Albany, New York 12241.
The above information is published by the Employee Benefits Division of the State of New York, Department of Civil Service, The State Campus, Albany, New York 12239. The Department of Civil Service,
The New York State
Insurance Fund and the Workers' Compensation Board administer the Workers' Compensation Program.
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