By Nathan Taylor, CSP, CHST, AGC Safety Operations Manager | Safety Management Consultant
In construction, most invoices are an expense you’d rather avoid. But in Oregon’s workers’ compensation system, there’s one “invoice” every employer should gladly pay: the cost of a non-disabling claim.
Oregon’s Unique Reimbursement Program
Oregon is one of the few states with a Non-Disabling Claims Reimbursement (NDC) program. This program reimburses medical-only claims up to $2,600 for 2026.
That means when a worker needs medical attention for a minor injury, employers can authorize the treatment without worrying that the claim will unfairly distort their loss experience. The system encourages early reporting and prompt medical care, both of which reduce the chance of small injuries turning into disabling, high-dollar claims.
Why It Matters to All AGC Contractors
Every AGC member that operates in Oregon benefits from this structure. Paying those medical-only invoices promptly helps protect your workers and stabilizes your company’s workers’ compensation costs. In an industry where margins are tight, keeping claim costs predictable can make a major difference.
A Bigger Deal for the Discount Group
For the AGC member companies in the SAIF workers’ compensation discount group, the stakes are even higher.
- Experience Rating (EMR): Non-disabling claims that are paid and reimbursed through the NDC program don’t artificially inflate claim costs, making it easier to maintain an EMR at or below 1.0, a requirement to stay in the group.
- Loss Ratio: Because reimbursed claims don’t pile onto loss history, companies have a better shot at keeping their loss ratios below the 40% threshold required for group eligibility.
- Group Discount Integrity: Here’s where the “double dip” comes in. Failing to handle and pay these invoices correctly not only drives up an individual employer’s EMR; it also raises the collective loss costs for the entire group. That, in turn, erodes the upfront discount that benefits all companies in the program.
The Role of Strong Claims Management
Even with Oregon’s reimbursement program, the most effective way to protect your company and the group is to keep claims from escalating into time-loss claims. That’s why the AGC Safety Services team constantly emphasizes good claims management practices, such as:
- Educating workers about your return-to-work program so they understand modified duty options from the start.
- Providing supervisor training so frontline leaders know how to handle injuries, documentation, and accommodations.
- Offering modified duty whenever possible and ensuring employees on modified duty are making their average weekly wage.
- Staying in close contact with injured workers and healthcare providers to keep recovery on track.
- Acting quickly on recommendations from your safety management consultant to avoid delays that turn medical-only cases into time-loss claims.
These proactive steps not only help workers heal faster, they also minimize claim costs, strengthen your company’s compliance, and protect the financial health of the group.
Every Oregon contractor benefits from utilizing the state’s reimbursement system as designed. But for AGC members in the SAIF discount group, the advantage is multiplied. Paying the invoice on a non-disabling claim isn’t just compliance; it’s a strategy that safeguards your company’s EMR, protects the group’s shared discount, and strengthens the long-term financial health of Oregon’s construction industry.
If you’d like to learn more about injury prevention, claims management, or the benefits of paying non-disabling claim reimbursement invoices, please reach out to your assigned safety management consultant or any member of our Safety Services Team. We are here to help you succeed!
This article was written with an assist from Chat GPT.