A WC behavioral-health case generates a defined set of documents, each with a specific job. Knowing what each one is — independent of when it is due, which is the next lesson — keeps a clinician from filing the wrong instrument at the right moment.
The DFRthe Doctor's First Report (DWC-5021) — the first treatment report on a case, form DWC-5021, is the first treatment report, opening the medical record on the case. The PR-2the periodic progress report (DWC-9785.2), form DWC-9785.2, is the periodic progress report that documents the ongoing course of treatment. The PR-3 and PR-4 are the Permanent & Stationary reports filed at MMI — PR-3 under the 1997 rating schedule, PR-4 under the 2005 schedule, as covered earlier.
The RFAthe Request for Authorization — requests treatment and triggers utilization review requests treatment and triggers utilization review; it is how a clinician asks for sessions beyond what is already authorized. The care plan sets out the treatment goals, interventions, return-to-work target, and restrictions — the clinical roadmap the rest of the documents report against.
Two documents exist specifically to protect the patient. The Work Status Report is the copy the employer receives, and it is deliberately narrow: functional status and restrictions only — never diagnoses or clinical detail. The DWC Form 121a declaration that protects a mental-health record from being served directly on the worker when release would risk significant adverse consequences is a declaration used when serving the report directly on the worker would risk significant adverse consequences.
The Work Status Report carries function and restrictions so the employer can make accommodation decisions — and nothing more. Diagnoses, symptoms, session content, and the causation analysis stay out of the employer copy. Filing clinical detail into the employer's hands is a confidentiality failure, not a paperwork slip.
What information is appropriate to include in the Work Status Report sent to the employer?