Why is the Board streamlining the conciliation process? Aren issues resolved faster at a hearing?
Streamlining the Board’s claim resolution process will thereby speed up resolution, whether by administrative determination, conciliation, or hearing. Currently, many claims are directed to a hearing before the record is fully developed. For example, it is not uncommon for a hearing to be adjourned for a month or longer so that the carrier can get an Independent Medical Examination (IME) opinion. Streamlined routing of cases and claims examiner outreach eliminates the need for these adjourned hearings by directing the parties to obtain their evidence before the meeting or hearing is held. This saves the time associated with waiting for a hearing to be scheduled and the time, expense and burden of holding the hearing that simply adjourns the case to gather evidence. It is incorrect that a hearing is generally the fastest way to resolve issues. Informal resolution can resolve issues more quickly when there is no significant dispute between the parties. If there are disputed issues that r
