A clear LHWCA Procedure Manual reduces claim delays, ensures consistent handling, and lowers legal and financial exposure by documenting steps for intake, medical management, and appeals. It also supports compliance, auditability, and safer coordination between employers, carriers, and counsel.
Employers, claims administrators, HR, safety personnel, and in-house counsel use the manual to coordinate claim responses and control compliance risk.
Define the manual's coverage, affected employee classes, geographic limits, and relationship to employer policies, collective bargaining agreements, and federal LHWCA coverage determinations; clarify exclusions and interfacing benefits programs.
Assign duties for claim intake, investigation, medical authorization, compensation calculation, legal review, and communication with claimants, insurers, and the Department of Labor when escalation is required.
Standardize initial reporting forms, witness statements, photos, and employer incident reports; include timelines for immediate notifications and documentation retention requirements for claim file completeness and insurer submission.
Detail preauthorization processes, designated medical examiners, return-to-work coordination, medical bill review, vocational services, and protections for protected health information including breach response procedures.
Specify internal reporting deadlines, insurer notice procedures, DOL filings where applicable, and documentation required for settlements, disputes, or appeals to preserve rights and evidentiary records.
Outline document retention schedules, secure storage methods, access controls, redaction practices for PHI, and audit trails for any electronic submissions or changes to claim files.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| eSignature field placement and types | Place signature, initial, and date fields per role. |
| Authentication and access control settings | Enable email/SMS codes and role-based permissions. |
| Conditional routing and escalation rules | Route claims by severity, location, and insurer. |
| Automated notifications and escalation emails | Notify adjusters, supervisors, and legal teams automatically. |
Use secure channels and platforms that support audit trails, encryption, and role-based access when distributing the manual and associated claim forms.
Report within 24 hours of knowledge; document facts and witnesses.
Notify carrier per policy; include completed intake and photos.
Submit in insurer portal or by secure email within company SLA.
Authorize urgent care; review bills within 14 days of receipt.
Complete file audit and close per retention rules after final settlement.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial, no credit card required | Varies by vendor and plan | Varies by vendor and plan | Varies by vendor and plan | Varies by vendor and plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes (premium tiers) | Yes (by plan) | Yes (by plan) | Yes (by plan) | Limited availability |
| Audit Trail | Full audit trail and certificates | Full audit trail | Full audit trail | Full audit trail | Full audit trail |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes (BAA available) | Yes (BAA available) | Yes (BAA available) | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | No published cap | No published cap | No published cap |