If you and your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer don't agree on your claim, the DIA will help adjudicate the dispute. These are the steps in the process:
- Conciliation
- Conference
- Pre-Hearing Conference
- Hearing
- Reviewing Board
Conciliation
When you, or your attorney, files a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, or the insurer files a complaint to stop or modify your benefits, a conciliation is scheduled.
A conciliation is an informal meeting between you, your attorney, the insurer's attorney, and a conciliator from the DIA.
- Bring medical documentation with you
- It is recommended you hire an attorney
- Find out tips on how to prepare for a conciliation
The conciliator will try to help the parties reach an agreement. If an agreement can’t be reached, the claim is referred to an administrative judge for the next step — a conference.
It is strongly advised you hire an attorney for a conference.
Conference
A conference, (also known as a proceeding), is also an informal discussion between you, your attorney if you have one, the insurer, and the administrative judge. The DIA has tips on preparing for a workers’ compensation conference.
If the issues are not resolved, the administrative judge will issue a temporary order that states if the workers’ compensation insurer must pay you benefits.
- If the insurer is asking to modify or stop benefits, the order will address those issues
You, and/or the insurer, can file an appeal of a workers’ compensation conference order within 14 days if you don’t agree with the administrative judge’s order.
Pre-Hearing Conference
The Pre-Hearing Conference will be conducted prior to the opening of a Hearing. The following guidelines are required for conducting the Pre-Hearing Conference.
Joint Pre-Hearing Memorandum and Pre-Hearing Conference
If the parties fail to timely submit a Joint Pre-Hearing Memorandum or schedule a Pre-Hearing Conference in accordance with Administrative Bulletin 10, the scheduled Hearing date will become a MANDATORY Pre-Hearing Conference and the parties will forfeit one of their three reschedule requests.
The parties are required to mark-up the Pre-Hearing Conference upon receipt of the § 11A report. The parties must file, and argue all motions in advance of the Pre-Hearing Conference if practicable. If the parties need to use the Pre-Hearing Conference to argue motions, the moving party must ensure that the motion(s) are filed well in advance so that the responding party has sufficient time to file an opposition, if so desired.
The parties are required to submit their Joint Pre-Hearing Memorandum at least 5 business days BEFORE the Pre-Hearing Conference.
The Pre-Hearing Conference must occur no later than 10 business days BEFORE the scheduled Hearing date.
The Administrative Judge will reschedule the Hearing back into the queue (or provide a new date if available) if the parties fail to adhere to the aforementioned timeline.
Additional Resources
Hearing
If the conference order is appealed, the case will go to a full evidentiary hearing.
The hearing is the “trial” phase of the case. Massachusetts rules of evidence apply, witnesses are called, and a stenographer records testimony. The DIA offers tips on preparing for a workers’ compensation hearing.
The administrative judge may require both sides to submit new evidence and oral testimony before issuing a hearing decision.
You and/or the insurer must file an appeal of a workers’ compensation hearing decision to the Reviewing Board within 30 days.
Reviewing Board
The DIA’s Reviewing Board hears appeals of hearing decisions. The DIA offers tips on preparing for a workers’ compensation Reviewing Board case.
Three administrative law judges will examine the hearing transcripts. The reviewing board:
- Can ask for legal arguments, called oral arguments
- Will require legal briefs
- Can affirm the hearing decision with no discussion
- Can send a decision back to the administrative judge for further findings of fact
The Reviewing Board will only reverse the hearing decision if they find it was:
- Beyond the scope of the administrative judge’s authority
- Arbitrary or capricious
- Contrary to law
Further appeals
If you and/or the insurer wants to appeal the Reviewing Board decision, it is heard by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals.