Chapter 7: Workers' Compensation Insurance
7.1 Purpose
The University of Texas at El Paso (University) Workers' Compensation Insurance (WCI) program is a state regulated insurance plan that covers medical treatment and rehabilitation for work-related injuries and illnesses. The WCI also pays a portion of income lost while an employee is away from work recovering from a work-related injury.
7.2 Policy Statement and Applicability
This policy affirms that all employees of the University are covered by the WCI program in accordance with the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act and outlines reporting procedures and responsibilities when an employee sustains an injury or occupational disease in the course and scope of their assigned duties.
7.3 Workers' Compensation Insurance Program
In instances of injury arising out of or in the course of employment, the employee is entitled to all medical aid, hospital services, and medication reasonably required at the time of injury and anytime thereafter to treat and relieve the effects naturally resulting from the injury.
In some instances, financial benefits may be available to offset a temporary loss of wage-earning capacity and/or to compensate for permanent impairment due to the injury. WCI is not health insurance, nor does it provide compensation for damage to or loss of personal property.
7.4 Responsibilities
7.4.1 Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for all employer functions related to the WCI program. These include: providing assistance to employees who experience a work-related injury or illness; electronic reporting of claims to the insurance carrier; facilitating prompt return to work into temporary assignments consistent with the abilities of a recovering employee; and restoration back into full duty once an employee has recovered to the extent that all essential job duties may be performed, with primary consideration given to the safety of the employee or as remaining medical restrictions allow.
7.4.2 EH&S is responsible for ensuring timely compliance by the University with requirements of the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) rules and regulations.
7.4.3 EH&S is responsible for managing the University's Return to Work (RTW) program which provides opportunities for an employee who is injured on the job to return to work into a meaningful role, whether as a temporary assignment or back to full duty release.
7.5 Reporting Injuries
The injured employee must report to their supervisor, or department head if the supervisor is not available, immediately after a work injury occurs. Failure to report an injury within 24 hours of the occurrence of the injury or manifestation of the occupational disease may result in the denial of a claim by the insurance adjuster.
The supervisor is responsible for ensuring the First Report of Injury form is completed. The supervisor must work with EH&S to submit the First Report of Injury form to EH&S. The form is available on the EH&S department website at the following link: https://www.utep.edu/ehs/_files/docs/forms/ehs-injury-incident-report.pdf.
The injured employee and their supervisor must notify EH&S if the injured employee has lost time from work due to a work-related injury.
A claim determination will be made by the insurance carrier following a thorough investigation.
7.6 Medical Treatment and WCI Network of Providers
Employees have the right to refuse medical treatment. An employee’s acceptance or refusal of medical treatment should be noted on the First Report of Injury form.
If an employee requires medical treatment for a work-related injury, the employee must choose a treating doctor from the WCI UT System IMO Health Care Network provider list. The treating doctor will coordinate medical care. If the employee is treated by a doctor or health care provider who is not a member of the UT System IMO Health Care Network, the employee may be responsible for the medical costs associated with the claim.
Unless the injured employee has received medical treatment from an unauthorized health care provider, the employee will not be billed directly for health care intended to treat a work-related injury. If the employee receives a bill from a health care provider for a work-related injury, the employee must send the invoice to EH&S immediately.
7.6.1 Out-of-State Employees
The UT System WCI IMO Health Care Network is available to employees who reside within the El Paso service area. To report out-of-state injuries, contact the EH&S WCI Coordinator at eh&s@utep.edu or at (915) 747-7197. Out-of-state claim submissions do not apply to individuals traveling on business domestically. For all claims of this nature please follow the standard claims submission process.
The University’s out-of-state employees are covered in the event any should be injured in the course and scope of employment by separate insurance policies depending on the state in which they work. These policies and arising claims will be handled by the individual states of North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, and Ohio as well as a multi-state policy for all other employee locations via The Hartford. Regardless of the location, each claim and report of injury should be reported to the WCI Coordinator via email at eh&s@utep.edu or by phone at (915) 747-7197.
7.7 Time Lost from Work Due to Work Injury
An injured employee who has lost time from work due to a work injury may utilize paid leave to cover time away from work.
7.7.1 If an employee does not have any available paid leave or the employee elects to not utilize paid leave while away from work due to a work injury, the employee will be placed on leave without pay.
7.7.2 An employee may be eligible for temporary income benefits if the time away from work due to a work-related injury is at least seven consecutive days and the employee has exhausted all paid leave or has elected to not utilize paid leave.
7.8 Return to WOrk Program
The Return to Work (RTW) program provides opportunities for injured employees to perform job duties with modifications or, when available, to perform alternate temporary work assignments that align with the injured employee's physical capabilities and treating doctor’s work restrictions. The program is designed to encourage and actively assist injured employees in a successful return to work.
University departments and the injured employee’s supervisor are required to work in cooperation with EH&S to accommodate the employee’s injuries as indicated by the treating doctor. If the treating doctor’s work restrictions cannot be accommodated by the injured employee’s supervisor or department, EH&S will attempt to identify another campus department that may accommodate the work restrictions.
7.9 References
Texas Labor Code, Chapter 503: Workers’ Compensation
UTEP Workers Compensation Program website
7.10 Dates Approved or Updated
June 2, 2026
June 8, 2015
