Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court Rules
Section 48-163, R.S. Supp. 2024; section 48-162.01, R.R.S. 2021.
Effective date: December 29, 2022.
A. If entitlement to vocational rehabilitation services is claimed by the employee, or a loss of earning power evaluation is desired by any party, the selection requirements of section 48-162.01(3) shall apply. The parties shall make a good faith attempt to agree on the choice of a vocational rehabilitation counselor from the directory of vocational rehabilitation counselors.
1. Any party may propose the selection of a vocational rehabilitation counselor from the directory.
2. The proposed vocational rehabilitation counselor shall obtain written agreement of his or her selection from each of the parties. The vocational rehabilitation counselor may contact the parties directly for this purpose. If agreement of all parties is obtained, the vocational rehabilitation counselor shall notify the court of his or her selection within five working days, using a form developed by the court.
Before agreement is obtained from the employee, the vocational rehabilitation counselor must provide written notice to the employee of his or her rights regarding the selection of the vocational rehabilitation counselor. The written notice shall include:
a. The employee’s right to agree to the proposed vocational rehabilitation counselor to provide vocational rehabilitation services and/or perform a loss of earning power evaluation;
b. The employee’s right not to agree to the proposed vocational rehabilitation counselor;
c. The employee’s right to propose a vocational rehabilitation counselor of his or her own choosing from the directory of vocational rehabilitation counselors;
d. The employee’s right to request the court to appoint a vocational rehabilitation counselor at no cost to the employee, if the parties are unable to agree on a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
A form developed by the court may be used to provide the required notice to the employee.
3. If, after a good faith attempt, the parties are unable to agree on the selection of a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a party shall request that the court appoint a vocational rehabilitation counselor from the directory. This request shall be made using a form developed by the court with the requestor providing copies to all other parties. An appointment will not be made if the request is submitted within 60 days before trial unless the trial is continued.
4. Within seven business days following receipt of a form requesting appointment of a vocational rehabilitation counselor, the court will review the request and notify the parties if the request has been approved or denied. If the request is approved, the court shall appoint a vocational rehabilitation counselor from the directory and notify the parties of the name of the court appointed vocational rehabilitation counselor.
B. When appointing a vocational rehabilitation counselor, a rehabilitation specialist of the court shall contact the individual whose name appears at the top or first position of the directory to ascertain if that vocational rehabilitation counselor agrees to accept the appointment, taking into consideration, but not limited to, such factors as geographic location of the employee and counselor, availability of the counselor to provide the requested services, ability of the counselor to provide timely services, and whether the counselor or another counselor associated with the same firm has provided or will provide medical case management services in the same claim.
1. If the vocational rehabilitation counselor accepts the appointment, his or her name shall be placed at the end of the directory. The next vocational rehabilitation counselor’s name on the directory shall then be moved to the top of the directory.
2. In the event that the vocational rehabilitation counselor does not accept the appointment, the vocational rehabilitation counselor whose name appears next on the directory shall be contacted to determine if he or she will accept the appointment. This process shall continue until the appointment is finally accepted.
3. Refusal without good cause to accept an appointment shall result in the vocational rehabilitation counselor’s name being placed at the end of the directory.
D. The vocational rehabilitation counselor agreed to or appointed pursuant to this rule shall be the sole vocational rehabilitation counselor to provide vocational rehabilitation services at any one time.
E. The parties, other than the employee, shall not attempt to influence or to control the meeting place, the outcome of the evaluation, or the recommendations of the vocational rehabilitation counselor. The meetings shall be held at a neutral site, except as provided in Rule 42,C.