Cost Containment Certification requires one full year of documentation demonstrating the minimum requirements outlined in Steps 1-6 are in place and effective at your organization.

Designating medical providers creates peace for employers by offering an immediate source of treatment and care for injured employees. This same facility can also manage all workers’ compensation claims, supporting stronger communication between the employer, insurer and attending physician.

Cost Containment Certification application requirements

When you’re ready to apply for certification, you’ll need to provide the following documentation for Step 5: 

1. Signed and dated New-Employee Designated Provider Notification letters dating back at least 12 months. 
2. If a workplace injury has occurred, you can also provide the Cost Containment Board signed and dated copies of the Designated Provider List Notification Letter. This is the letter that you must give to an injured worker within seven days of being notified of an injury. 
   

Optional:

• If no injuries have occurred in your workplace, then a blank copy of the Designated Provider List Notification Letter will be sufficient. Copies of this letter are not required but can help strengthen your application. 
  

Additional designated medical provider guidance

Tips for selecting Colorado medical providers

 Colorado’s workers’ compensation law allows you, the employer, to select the treating physicians for work-related illnesses or injuries, as long as you do the following:

•  Offer four medical providers, at least one of which is at a different location without common ownership. 
• Give injured employees the Designated Provider List Notification Letter as soon as you learn of the injury. 
  

Selecting medical providers who are experts in occupational medicine is an integral part of claims management. By designating physicians who can really get to know your business and its common injuries, your employees will receive high-quality, cost-effective care that helps support speedy recovery and a safe return to work. 

To help with your selection of designated medical providers, Pinnacol has developed SelectNet, a network of accredited occupational health providers throughout the state. If you need help selecting your four designated providers, or if you have any questions about our SelectNet providers, please contact your underwriter. 

While it’s not required for Cost Containment Certification, we highly recommend that you get to know and stay in touch with your designated medical providers. 

Communication is the key to an effective relationship between the employer and the designated medical provider. Become more familiar with providers by

• Visiting your designated medical providers at their offices. 
• Inviting them to tour your facility. 
• Arranging for them to send you a status update following each medical appointment. 
• Giving them a copy of your organization’s job descriptions so they are aware of the physical requirements of each position. 
• Sending them a copy of your modified duty policy and preplanned modified duty tasks so they’re aware of ways your employees can return to work safely. 
  

Communicating Your Providers to Your Employees 

Once you’ve identified your four designated medical providers, you need to communicate this information in writing to your employees. You can do this through a New Employee Designated Provider Notification Letter.

 A sample New Employee Designated Provider Notification Letter

Once your custom letter is ready, distribute it to all employees and have them sign, date and return it. Make sure to keep the signed and dated documents on file. 

In addition to providing your employees with the notification letter, we also recommend that employers:

•  Host an annual safety meeting reminding your employees of your designated medical providers. 
• Hang up an informational poster. We offer free Notice to Employees posters for employers.

When an Injury Takes Place 

Despite employees signing the New Employee Designated Provider Notification Letter, you are still required by law to hand-deliver or mail the Designated Provider List Notification Letter to injured workers within seven days of learning about a workplace injury. 

This letter must be signed and dated by your injured worker. Be sure to give a copy to your employee and keep a copy for your files. 

Designated provider list notification letter for an injured worker