ORS 656.278
Board has continuing authority to alter earlier action on claim

  • limitations

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the power and jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Board shall be continuing, and it may, upon its own motion, from time to time modify, change or terminate former findings, orders or awards if in its opinion such action is justified in those cases in which:

(a)

There is a worsening of a compensable injury that results in the inability of the worker to work and requires hospitalization or inpatient or outpatient surgery, or other curative treatment prescribed in lieu of hospitalization that is necessary to enable the injured worker to return to work. In such cases, the payment of temporary disability compensation in accordance with ORS 656.210 (Temporary total disability), 656.212 (Temporary partial disability) (2) and 656.262 (Processing of claims and payment of compensation) (4) may be provided from the time the attending physician authorizes temporary disability compensation for the hospitalization, surgery or other curative treatment until the worker’s condition becomes medically stationary;

(b)

The worker submits and obtains acceptance of a claim for a compensable new medical condition or an omitted medical condition pursuant to ORS 656.267 (Claims for new and omitted medical conditions) and the claim is initiated after the rights under ORS 656.273 (Aggravation for worsened conditions) have expired. In such cases, the payment of temporary disability compensation in accordance with the provisions of ORS 656.210 (Temporary total disability), 656.212 (Temporary partial disability) (2) and 656.262 (Processing of claims and payment of compensation) (4) may be provided from the time the attending physician authorizes temporary disability compensation for the hospitalization, surgery or other curative treatment until the worker’s condition becomes medically stationary, and the payment of permanent disability benefits may be provided after application of the standards for the evaluation and determination of disability as may be adopted by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services pursuant to ORS 656.726 (Duties and powers to carry out workers’ compensation and occupational safety laws); or

(c)

The date of injury is earlier than January 1, 1966. In such cases, in addition to the payment of temporary disability compensation, the payment of medical benefits may be provided.

(2)

Benefits provided under subsection (1) of this section:

(a)

Do not include vocational assistance benefits under ORS 656.340 (Vocational assistance procedure);

(b)

Do not include temporary disability compensation for periods of time during which the claimant did not qualify as a “worker” pursuant to ORS 656.005 (Definitions) (28);

(c)

Do not include medical services provided pursuant to ORS 656.245 (Medical services to be provided) except as provided under subsection (1)(c) of this section; and

(d)

May include permanent disability benefits for additional impairment to an injured body part that has previously been the basis of a permanent partial disability award, but only to the extent that the permanent partial disability rating exceeds the permanent partial disability rated by the prior award or awards.

(3)

An order or award made by the board during the time within which the claimant has the right to request a hearing on aggravation under ORS 656.273 (Aggravation for worsened conditions) is not an order or award, as the case may be, made by the board on its own motion.

(4)

Pursuant to ORS 656.298 (Judicial review of board orders), any party may appeal an order or award made by the board on its own motion.

(5)

The insurer or self-insured employer may voluntarily reopen any claim to provide benefits allowable under this section or to grant additional medical or hospital care to the claimant. The board shall establish procedures for the resolution of disputes arising out of a voluntary reopening of a claim under this section.

(6)

Any claim reopened under this section shall be closed by the insurer or self-insured employer in a manner prescribed by the board, including, when appropriate, an award of permanent disability benefits as determined under subsections (1)(b) and (2)(d) of this section. The board shall also prescribe a process to be followed if the worker objects to the claim closure.

(7)

The provisions of this section do not authorize the board, on its own motion, to modify, change or terminate former findings or orders:

(a)

That a claimant incurred no injury or incurred a noncompensable injury; or

(b)

Approving disposition of a claim under ORS 656.236 (Compromise and release of claim matters except for medical benefits) or 656.289 (Orders of Administrative Law Judge) (4). [Amended by 1955 c.718 §1; 1957 c.559 §1; 1965 c.285 §33; 1981 c.535 §32; 1985 c.212 §6; 1987 c.884 §37; 1990 c.2 §19; 1995 c.332 §33; 2001 c.865 §11; 2005 c.188 §2; 2021 c.257 §3]

Source: Section 656.278 — Board has continuing authority to alter earlier action on claim; limitations, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors656.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Employer may not appeal board decision that neither increases nor decreases award. Morton v. N.W. Foundry, 36 Or App 259, 584 P2d 346 (1978), Sup Ct review denied

Legislature did not intend that a claimant’s appeal rights granted by ORS 656.268 should prematurely terminate when his aggravation rights expire and, when claim is opened during time claimant still has appeal rights, closure of that claim carries with it right of appeal whenever issued. Coombs v. SAIF, 39 Or App 293, 592 P2d 242 (1979)

In limiting right of appeal, “former award” refers to award made prior to exercise of own motion power. Christiani v. SAIF, 40 Or App 827, 596 P2d 621 (1979), Sup Ct review denied

Because claim was reopened during time claimant had right to appeal, closing order was not on board’s “own motion” and was therefore appealable. Carter v. SAIF, 52 Or App 1027, 630 P2d 397 (1981)

Board must explain conclusion when previous determinations are directly contrary. Wausau Ins. Co. v. Morris, 103 Or App 270, 796 P2d 1243 (1990)

Employer may not seek review of own motion order that does not increase award, even if determination is not based on merits of claim. SAIF v. Wheeler, 110 Or App 453, 823 P2d 434 (1992), Sup Ct review denied

Even though Workers’ Compensation Board’s award of benefits was erroneous, insurer was entitled to reimbursement under ORS 656.625. EBI Companies v. Dept. of Ins. and Finance, 114 Or App 356, 834 P2d 539 (1992), Sup Ct review denied

Board lacks authority to award vocational services or other unenumerated benefits on own motion claims. Harsh v. Harsco Corp., 123 Or App 383, 859 P2d 1178 (1993), Sup Ct review denied

Board has original jurisdiction to enforce own motion order. Orman v. SAIF, 131 Or App 653, 886 P2d 503 (1994)

Where worker has suffered worsening of compensable injury instead of new or omitted medical condition, worker may not obtain additional permanent disability benefits. Goddard v. Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp., 193 Or App 238, 89 P3d 1215 (2004)

Award of insurer-paid attorney fees is not increase in compensation award for purposes of appealability of order of Workers’ Compensation Board. Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp. v. Samel, 199 Or App 540, 112 P3d 414 (2005)

Under 1999 version of this section, Workers’ Compensation Board may not, on its own motion, suspend claimant’s temporary disability payments for failure to cooperate with physical therapy recommendations. Jordan v. SAIF, 343 Or 208, 167 P3d 451 (2007)

This section does not require curative treatment in context of new or omitted medical condition to be in lieu of hospitalization. Butcher v. SAIF Corp., 247 Or App 684, 270 P3d 385 (2012), Sup Ct review denied

Where claimant had compensable injury that physician determined was not medically stationary, and physician prescribed pain medication, muscle relaxers and other treatment but did not make “palliative care plan”, physician’s authorization for claimant’s temporary disability for “curative treatment” as used in this section, is supported by substantial evidence. SAIF Corporation v. Camarena, 264 Or App 400, 332 P3d 341 (2014)

COMPLETED CITATIONS: Willamson v. SAIF, 6 Or App 95, 487 P2d 110 (1971)

Law Review Citations

32 WLR 217 (1996)

656.001
Short title
656.003
Application of definitions to construction of chapter
656.005
Definitions
656.006
Effect on employers’ liability law
656.008
Extension of laws relating to workers’ compensation to federal lands and projects within state
656.010
Treatment by spiritual means
656.012
Findings and policy
656.017
Employer required to pay compensation and perform other duties
656.018
Effect of providing coverage
656.019
Civil negligence action for claim denied on basis of failure to meet major contributing cause standard
656.020
Damage actions by workers against noncomplying employers
656.021
Coverage exception for laborers under contracts with construction and landscape contractor licensees
656.023
Who are subject employers
656.025
Individuals engaged in commuter ridesharing not subject workers
656.027
Who are subject workers
656.029
Obligation of person awarding contract to provide coverage for workers under contract
656.031
Coverage for municipal volunteer personnel
656.033
Coverage for participants in work experience or school directed professional training programs
656.035
Status of workers in separate occupations of employer
656.037
Exemption from coverage for persons engaged in certain real estate activities
656.039
Election of coverage for workers not subject to law
656.041
City or county may elect to provide coverage for adults in custody
656.043
Governmental agency paying wages responsible for providing coverage
656.044
State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation may insure liability under Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
656.046
Coverage of persons in college work experience and professional education programs
656.052
Prohibition against employment without coverage
656.054
Claim of injured worker of noncomplying employer
656.056
Subject employers must post notice of manner of compliance
656.070
Definitions for ORS 656.027, 656.070 and 656.075
656.075
Exemption from coverage for newspaper carriers
656.126
Coverage while temporarily in or out of state
656.128
Sole proprietors, limited liability company members, partners, independent contractors may elect coverage by insurer
656.132
Coverage of minors
656.135
Coverage of deaf school work experience trainees
656.138
Coverage of apprentices, trainees participating in related instruction classes
656.140
Coverage of persons operating equipment for hire
656.154
Injury due to negligence or wrong of a person not in the same employ as injured worker
656.156
Intentional injuries
656.160
Effect of incarceration on receipt of compensation
656.170
Validity of provisions of certain collective bargaining agreements
656.172
Applicability of and criteria for establishing program under ORS 656.170
656.174
Rules
656.202
Compensation payable to subject worker in accordance with law in effect at time of injury
656.204
Death
656.206
Permanent total disability
656.208
Death during permanent total disability
656.209
Offsetting permanent total disability benefits against Social Security benefits
656.210
Temporary total disability
656.211
“Average weekly wage” defined
656.212
Temporary partial disability
656.214
Permanent partial disability
656.216
Permanent partial disability
656.218
Continuance of permanent partial disability payments to survivors
656.222
Compensation for additional accident
656.225
Compensability of certain preexisting conditions
656.226
Cohabitants and children entitled to compensation
656.228
Payments directly to beneficiary or custodian
656.230
Lump sum award payments
656.232
Payments to aliens residing outside of United States
656.234
Compensation not assignable nor to pass by operation of law
656.236
Compromise and release of claim matters except for medical benefits
656.240
Deduction of benefits from sick leave payments paid to employees
656.245
Medical services to be provided
656.247
Payment for medical services prior to claim acceptance or denial
656.248
Medical service fee schedules
656.250
Limitation on compensability of physical therapist services
656.252
Medical report regulation
656.254
Medical report forms
656.256
Considerations for rules regarding certain rural hospitals
656.258
Vocational assistance service payments
656.260
Certification procedure for managed health care provider
656.262
Processing of claims and payment of compensation
656.263
To whom notices sent under ORS 656.262, 656.265, 656.268 to 656.289, 656.295 to 656.325 and 656.382 to 656.388
656.264
Compensable injury, denied claim and other reports
656.265
Notice of accident from worker
656.266
Burden of proving compensability and nature and extent of disability
656.267
Claims for new and omitted medical conditions
656.268
Claim closure
656.273
Aggravation for worsened conditions
656.277
Request for reclassification of nondisabling claim
656.278
Board has continuing authority to alter earlier action on claim
656.283
Hearing rights and procedure
656.285
Protection of witnesses at hearings
656.287
Use of vocational reports in determining loss of earning capacity at hearing
656.289
Orders of Administrative Law Judge
656.291
Expedited Claim Service
656.295
Board review of Administrative Law Judge orders
656.298
Judicial review of board orders
656.304
When acceptance of compensation precludes hearing
656.307
Determination of issues regarding responsibility for compensation payment
656.308
Responsibility for payment of claims
656.310
Presumption concerning notice of injury and self-inflicted injuries
656.313
Stay of compensation pending request for hearing or review
656.319
Time within which hearing must be requested
656.325
Required medical examination
656.327
Review of medical treatment of worker
656.328
List of authorized providers and standards of professional conduct for providers of independent medical examinations
656.331
Contact, medical examination of worker represented by attorney prohibited without written notice
656.340
Vocational assistance procedure
656.360
Confidentiality of worker medical and vocational claim records
656.362
Liability for disclosure of worker medical and vocational claim records
656.382
Penalties and attorney fees payable by insurer or employer in processing claim
656.383
Attorney fees in cases prior to decision or after request for hearing
656.385
Attorney fees in cases regarding certain medical service or vocational rehabilitation matters
656.386
Recovery of attorney fees, expenses and costs in appeal on denied claim
656.388
Approval of attorney fees required
656.390
Frivolous appeals, hearing requests or motions
656.403
Obligations of self-insured employer
656.407
Qualifications of insured employers
656.419
Workers’ compensation insurance contracts
656.423
Cancellation of coverage by employer
656.427
Termination of workers’ compensation insurance contract or surety bond liability by insurer
656.430
Certification of self-insured employer
656.434
Certification effective until canceled or revoked
656.440
Notice of certificate revocation
656.441
Advancement of funds from Workers’ Benefit Fund for compensation due workers insured by certain decertified self-insured employer groups
656.443
Procedure upon default by employer or self-insured employer group
656.445
Advancement of funds from Workers’ Benefit Fund for compensation due workers insured by insurer in default
656.447
Sanctions against insurer for failure to comply with contracts, orders or rules
656.455
Self-insured employers to process claims and make records available at authorized locations
656.502
“Fiscal year” defined
656.504
Rates, charges, fees and reports by employers insured by State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation
656.505
Estimate of payroll when employer fails to file payroll report
656.506
Assessments for programs
656.508
Authority to fix premium rates for employers
656.526
Distribution of dividends from surplus in Industrial Accident Fund
656.536
Premium charges for coverage of reforestation cooperative workers based on prevailing wage
656.552
Deposit of cash, bond or letter of credit to secure payment of employer’s premiums
656.554
Injunction against employer failing to comply with deposit requirements
656.556
Liability of person letting a contract for amounts due from contractor
656.560
Default in payment of premiums, fees, assessments or deposit
656.562
Moneys due Industrial Accident Fund as preferred claims
656.564
Lien for amounts due from employer on real property, improvements and equipment on or with which labor is performed by workers of employer
656.566
Lien on property of employer for amounts due
656.576
“Paying agency” defined
656.578
Workers’ election whether to sue third person or noncomplying employer for damages
656.580
Payment of compensation notwithstanding cause of action for damages
656.583
Paying agency may compel election and prompt action
656.587
Paying agency must join in any compromise
656.591
Election not to bring action operates as assignment of cause of action
656.593
Procedure when worker or beneficiary elects to bring action
656.595
Precedence of cause of action
656.596
Damage recovery as offset against compensation
656.602
Disbursement procedures
656.605
Workers’ Benefit Fund
656.612
Assessments for department activities
656.614
Self-Insured Employer Adjustment Reserve
656.622
Reemployment Assistance Program
656.625
Reopened Claims Program
656.628
Workers with Disabilities Program
656.630
Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences funding
656.632
Industrial Accident Fund
656.634
Trust fund status of Industrial Accident Fund
656.635
Reserve accounts in Industrial Accident Fund
656.636
Reserves in Industrial Accident Fund for awards for permanent disability or death
656.640
Creation of reserves
656.642
Emergency Fund
656.644
Petty cash funds
656.702
Disclosure of records of corporation, department and insurers
656.704
Actions and orders regarding matters concerning claim and matters other than matters concerning claim
656.708
Hearings Division
656.709
Ombudsman for injured workers
656.712
Workers’ Compensation Board
656.714
Removal of board member
656.716
Board members not to engage in political or business activity that interferes with duties as board member
656.718
Chairperson
656.720
Prosecution and defense of actions by Attorney General and district attorneys
656.722
Authority to employ subordinates
656.724
Administrative Law Judges
656.725
Duties and status of Administrative Law Judges
656.726
Duties and powers to carry out workers’ compensation and occupational safety laws
656.727
Rules for administration of benefit offset
656.730
Assigned risk plan
656.732
Power to compel obedience to subpoenas and punish for misconduct
656.735
Civil penalty for noncomplying employers
656.740
Review of proposed order declaring noncomplying employer or nonsubjectivity determination
656.745
Civil penalty for inducing failure to report claims
656.751
State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation created
656.752
State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation
656.753
State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation exempt from certain financial administration laws
656.754
Manager
656.758
Inspection of books, records and payrolls
656.772
Annual audit of State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation by Secretary of State
656.774
Annual report by State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation to Secretary of State
656.776
Notice to Secretary of State regarding action on audit report
656.780
Certification and training of claims examiners
656.790
Workers’ Compensation Management-Labor Advisory Committee
656.794
Advisory committee on medical care
656.795
Informational materials for nurse practitioners
656.797
Certification by nurse practitioner of review of required materials
656.798
Duty of insurer, self-insured employer and self-insured employer group to provide information to director
656.799
Informational materials for other health care professionals
656.802
Occupational disease
656.804
Occupational disease as an injury under Workers’ Compensation Law
656.807
Time for filing of claims for occupational disease
656.850
License
656.855
Licensing system for worker leasing companies
656.990
Penalties
Green check means up to date. Up to date