Effective August 2020, the Divisions of Federal Employees’ Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation merged to create a single Division (DFELHWC).The DFELHWC with this issuance makes a number of additional updates to FECA procedures due to organizational restructuring. The FECA Program has progressively moved from a regional and geographic based structure to a more centralized and cohesive organization. Operations and policies have been realigned to build seamless lines of communication, eliminating barriers and distinctions between the national office and the field offices. Many positions previously located in field offices have also been realigned. Staff Nurse and Rehabilitation Specialists are now under the Branch of Regulations and Procedures, Fiscal Officers and Medical Coding Specialists are now under the Branch of Fiscal Operations and Customer Service Representatives are now under the Branch of Technical Assistance.

In furtherance of this reorganization, effective September 28, 2020, the FECA Program will eliminate jurisdictional boundaries and cease geographic-based jurisdictional case assignments. Claims examiners will now handle cases based on a rotational assignment model regardless of the claimant’s geographic location.

These changes will allow equitable distribution of cases among FECA Claims Examiners and optimize consistent case processing across the country. Further, this reorganization will afford the FECA Program increased flexibility in the hiring process as well as provide the Program with greater agility to respond to unanticipated events.

Also effective September 28, 2020, the position of Senior Claims Examiner will be retired and a new position, the Quality Assurance and Mentoring Examiner (QAM), created. Historically, Senior Claims Examiners have been utilized differently with many engaged in more routine Claims Examiner duties. The new role will focus primarily on helping ensure the quality of Claims Examiner work as well as mentoring and developing staff. The procedure manual has been updated to reflect this new position.