Presumptive Eligibility for Health Care Workers During a Public Health Emergency

WSNA has been hearing that nurses are being told by HR or Employee Health that the nurse cannot file an L & I claim because the hospital has decided the nurse’s exposure was not at the hospital. This is not permissible. It is important that you know your rights and how to claim coverage should you contract COVID-19.

• The Dept of Labor and Industries makes the determination about eligibility, not the UWMC.
• The UWMC must allow you to file a claim.
• If the UWMC does not allow a workers’ compensation claim to be filed, you may need file a Claim Suppression form with Labor and Industries - https://lni.wa.gov/fraud/claim-suppression
• If your claim is approved by L & I, you do not have to use your sick or vacation time unless you want to supplement what L & I pays.
• You have the ability to appeal an L & I claim.
• You can review our handy Info to Go sheet
• (This does not include nurses who were on vacation or other leave and the period of absence would have made it impossible that it was contracted at work.)

Please review these resources and reach out to your Nurse Representative with and questions or concerns.