icare to launch open market tender for rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation services

Insurance and Care NSW (icare) is launching an open market tender for workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation services for the NSW Nominal Insurer Workers Compensation Scheme.

The tender also includes services for the Bush Fire Fighters Compensation Fund, the Emergency and Rescue Workers Compensation Fund and the Uninsured Liability Scheme.

Through this tender process icare aims to further improve outcomes in workers compensation for injured workers and NSW businesses, by making the most of a competitive marketplace and ensuring consistent and high-quality services through the successful tenderers.

Providers intending to bid for the tender should first register on the NSW Government eTendering website. Providers will then be able to submit their proposals on the eTendering website once the tender documentation becomes available in August 2022.

In May 2021, icare announced that the contracts for workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation providers would be extended to 31 December 2022.

Following this announcement, icare undertook consultations with stakeholders to understand their experience of workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and non-medical investigations services in the workers compensation scheme and listened to their concerns.

Stakeholders that were consulted included claims service providers, third-party service providers, employers and brokers.

A key objective of this tender process is to ensure the successful service providers bring greater consistency in service experience and produce high-quality services to deliver better outcomes for people and communities in NSW.

The new panel for workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal, and investigation providers will begin operating from 1 January 2023.

    Frequently asked questions

  • What services does this open market tender cover?
    icare is running an open market tender for the procurement of workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation services for the NSW Nominal Insurer Workers Compensation Scheme, as well as the Bush Fire Fighter Compensation Fund, the Emergency and Rescue Workers Compensation Fund and the Uninsured Liability Scheme.
  • Why has icare announced this open market tender?
    The contracts for the current workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation services providers end on 31 December 2022.
  • When will this tender be launched?
    icare intends to launch the open market tender in August 2022. Prospective tenderers will be able to register on the NSW Government eTendering website to receive notifications.
  • When will the tender process for these service providers begin?
    The tender process is due to begin in August 2022 when the tender documents are published on the NSW Government eTendering website.
  • When will agreements with successful tenderers start?
    The agreements with successful tenderers will start from 1 January 2023.
  • What benefits is this new panel expected to bring?
    The new panel is expected to bring greater consistency in service experience across workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and investigation services, and to help improve the outcomes for injured workers and their employers in NSW.
  • Will icare consider expanding or decreasing the number of service providers?

    While the objective of the open market tender is to establish a panel of service providers, icare is not committed to any particular number of service providers and will base any final decision on the responses received through the procurement process.

    Importantly, icare is seeking to make the most of a competitive marketplace and ensure quality services through the successful tenderers to help improve the outcomes for injured workers and for their employers in NSW.

  • If there are changes to these service providers, will there be any disruption to services on claims?

    To ensure continuity of service, all third-party service providers currently on icare's panel will be able to complete their services on claims where the referral was accepted prior to 1 January 2023.

    From 1 January 2023:

    • Workplace rehabilitation and medico-legal service providers not on icare's new panel can continue to provide services.
    • Only investigation service providers on icare's new panel can be referred to for non-medical investigation services.
  • What does this mean for employers?

    Employers will be able to continue to utilise their preferred workplace rehabilitation even if the provider is not on icare's panel from 1 January 2023.

    If your business has a preferred investigation service provider that is not selected for icare's new panel, referrals for investigations can no longer be made to this provider. Your claim service provider will need to select a new provider from the new panel.

    For medico-legal services, referrals can be still made for a provider not on icare's panels and workers will continue to be given the opportunity to choose from three options for independent medical examinations. 

  • What does this mean for injured people with claims with these service providers already underway?

    To ensure continuity of service, all service providers currently on icare's panel will be able to complete their services on claims where the referral was accepted prior to 1 January 2023.

  • Has icare consulted with any parties prior to the tender announcement?

    In 2021, icare undertook a consultation process to understand the experience of stakeholders with workplace rehabilitation, medico-legal and non-medical investigations services in the workers compensation scheme. Stakeholders that were consulted included claims service providers, third-party service providers, employers and brokers.

  • What procurement process is being used for the open tender?

    The procurement process will follow NSW Procurement Policy Framework and is being supported by an independent organisation.

    Providers intending to bid for a contract with icare will receive procurement details under a Confidential Deed Poll.

    Notification for this open market tender has been made available on the NSW Government eTendering website.

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