Effective September 24, 2022, Arizona’s workers’ compensation law is amended to clarify that employers and attending physicians must report to the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) and to the employer’s insurance carrier every known injury to an employee that arises out of or in the course of employment and that results in loss of life or injury requiring medical treatment. The amendment also defines the scope of “medical treatment.”
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment does not include any one-time, short-term treatment by non-medical staff that requires little technology or training to administer, including treatment of minor scratches, cuts, burns and splinters and other issues that ordinarily do not require medical care.
Next Steps for Employers
Employers should review and update their workers’ compensation procedures to ensure that reports are filed in accordance with the amendments. Employers should also ensure that they have written accident and injury reporting procedures which have been communicated to all employees. Managers and supervisors should also be trained on the employer’s policies to ensure that proper reporting is adhered to.
