The NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) wants insurers working within the state’s workers’ compensation scheme to be “flexible and adaptable” in handling claims involving healthcare workers suffering from COVID-19.

SIRA says a proposed standard of practice released for consultation last week is underpinned by the principle that insurers will be flexible and adaptable during the pandemic and will make liability decisions and pay entitlements without delay.

Where there is a high risk of exposure to the virus within a workplace, insurers should quickly provisionally accept liability and start payments, it says.

The requirement would include cases involving doctors and nurses and those involved in the diagnostic testing, treatment and care of people diagnosed with COVID-19.

“It is important that such workers know the NSW community supports them and they do not need to take onerous steps to prove that work was the main contributing factor to their disease injury,” SIRA says.

Insurers should also expedite decisions on full liability when a claim is made by a worker with a confirmed diagnosis, as soon as enough information is available.

The consultation paper considers implications for workers accessing JobKeeper payments and highlights the availability of recently expanded telehealth services.

The standard is expected to start this month and would be in place for 12 months, unless SIRA decides changes should be made.

“Given the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 and the uncertainty about how the pandemic may unfold, SIRA will closely monitor the management of COVID-19 related claims and will consult on the need to further refine this Standard if appropriate,” it says.

Feedback is due by next Monday on the consultation paper, which is available here.