If you have an insured Mid-Term or Long-Term Disability plan, you have access to Early Intervention Services through Disability Management Institute (DMI). The Early Intervention Program (EIP) supports you and your employee on leave so they can safely return to work. Participating in an EIP and referring an employee reduces the likelihood of an employee’s absence resulting in a long-term disability claim.
When an employee has a medical absence that exceeds (or is expected to exceed) 5 consecutive work shifts, you should initiate a referral to the EIP. This includes absences related to injury or illness, as well as those related to workplace or motor vehicle accidents. Even if you think the absence will resolve quickly, there may be additional resources DMI can provide to your employee by initiating a referral. Delaying a referral to the EIP can make an employee 2-3 times more likely to file a long-term disability claim.
How do I initiate an EIP referral?
- To begin the referral process, log into your WEBS portal, navigate to the “Forms and Insurer Information” section located on the right-hand menu, click the “DMI” folder, download the form in either English or French, and fill in the required sections.
- Email it to eip@mydmi.ca along with the employee’s current job description and medical documentation (where available).
- Once DMI has received the notification, they’ll reach out to you and your employee within two business days.
Updating WEBS
After initiating an EIP referral, you’ll need to review the employee’s information and coverage in WEBS to confirm their accuracy. Make any necessary updates including:
- Moving the employee to the appropriate disability and sub class in WEBS (e.g. ‘D’ for ‘disability class’).
- Confirming accurate salary or earnings information (e.g. any recent raises or increases).
- Inputting the employee’s first date of absence due to disability. This is valuable information as it relates to the employee’s eligibility for benefits.
- Moving the employee back to an ‘Active’ status when they have returned to work to their regular hours and duties.
It’s important that the details submitted match an employee’s records in WEBS, as discrepancies can cause application delays. If you have questions about coverage or how to correctly code employees in WEBS, reach out to your GroupHEALTH representative.
If your company plan has an insured Short-Term Disability benefit, you do not need to submit an EIP form if you fill out the ‘Employer’s Statement’ for Short-Term Disability benefits and provide DMI with the employee’s contact information. DMI will set up a file for them and start the process.
Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions about Early Intervention, please contact your GroupHEALTH representative or email DMI at eip@mydmi.ca.
Need some tips or training on WEBS? Register for one of GroupHEALTH’s monthly plan administrator webinars on the Knowledge Base homepage.