Public safety unions call for better workers' comp

Members of the Austin Police, Fire, EMS and Retired Police Officer Associations addressed concerns over the City of Austin's workers compensation system, claiming first responders' injuries aren't getting properly treated.

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Members of the Austin Police, Fire, EMS and Retired Police Officer Associations addressed concerns over the City of Austin's workers compensation system, claiming first responders' injuries aren't getting properly treated.

"We've seen way more [workers' compensation] denials in public safety than we have in other departments," Selena Xie, president of the EMS Association, said during this week's Public Safety Commission meeting.

Austin Police Association (APA) President Michael Bullock, in that same meeting, said officers shot in the line of duty have had trouble getting their treatments approved.

The City contracts with a third party, Sedgwick, to process workers' compensation claims. The contract is currently up next year, and city staff suggested at the Public Safety Commission meeting that the search for the next company to contract to be put on pause to evaluate first responders' concerns. During that same presentation, the City said the "majority" of workers' compensation claims are approved.

"Our Human Resources Department is in the process of recalibrating the Workers' Compensation program, focusing on improving the injured worker experience," a City spokesperson said in an email. "In addition, we are working to implement a service to partner with each injured employee to ensure they have identified care providers and have an optimal recovery experience.  Finally, we are focusing on repositioning the program to have more flexibility regarding parameters of care."

Lt. Christopher Juusola with the Austin Police Department said, "The system is set up to where it's a system of denials and roadblocks that prevent officers from returning back to duty... It's wearing on officers' mental health, their ability to do their job and their ability to help the community."

Juusola added it costs more money in officer overtime to backfill positions.

A City spokesperson said workers' compensation is closely regulated by the state, but staff are working to determine which processes the City has the authority to revise.

KXAN will have more from first responders who say they've had their claims denied later this afternoon, check back for updates.