COMCARE OPERATIONAL ADVICE NO 116
REGISTRATION OF DEATH CLAIMS ON COMPENSE AND USE OF DEATH INDICATORS ON COMPENSE
State Managers
State Operations Managers
State Review Managers
State Rehabilitation Managers
State Executive Officers
Branch Managers
Section Managers
Central Office Directors
REGISTRATION OF DEATH CLAIMS
Death claims may fall into 2 categories:
(i)"primary" death claims, i.e. death due to an injury or disease not previously claimed;
(ii)"consequent" death claims, i.e. death as a consequence of an injury or disease previously claimed.
"Primary" death claims should be registered as a new claim, ensuring that the "deceased" fields are completed.
If, however, a claim is submitted for the death of an employee as a result of a previously claimed condition (a "consequent" death claim) the death claim should not be registered as a separate claim. It should be entered as a secondary condition on the existing claim; using the same body location, condition section and condition codes (as there are presently no specific codes for death).
DEATH INDICATORS
There is provision on Compense ‑ in the employee file ‑ to record that an employee is deceased and the date of his/her death.
This system enhancement was requested by the Premiums Section following enquiries from agencies about high case estimates calculated for deceased employees.
The purpose of having a death indicator is to identify these deceased employees and enable recalculation of the case estimates on all their claims.
It is therefore essential that the "deceased" fields on Compense are completed when registering a death claim ("primary" or "consequent") and whenever advice of the death of an employee is received (whether the death is considered compensable or not).
ROBERT KNAPP
Deputy Chief Executive
24 October 1991