Rehabilitative Services helps disability recipients

MMRO to resume role as third-party administrator in October

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Sept. 26, 2024 – OPERS offers disability benefits to qualifying members when unexpected health issues and accidents occur.

Members of the OPERS Traditional and Combined plans may apply for disability benefits if they have at least five years of contributing service credit. Law enforcement members are immediately eligible for disability benefits for any on-duty illness or injury.

A key component of our disability plan is the OPERS Rehabilitative Services Program, which helps disability recipients return to wellness. Program participants partner with a clinical nurse case manager who works with them to map out a plan for recovery. They also receive vocational assistance to help with their self-directed job search efforts.

OPERS created the program in 2014 for state and local members, and since then, it’s proven to be of great value to those receiving a disability benefit.

We contract with an outside company to administer the program. The program’s initial administrator, Michigan-based Managed Medical Review Organization, will resume that role on Oct. 28.

MMRO has clinical nurse case managers with expertise in supporting disabled individuals by conducting clinical assessments, creating personalized case management plans, and providing ongoing coaching and support. All those services are provided over the telephone.

By actively participating in the Rehabilitative Services Program and complying with their case management and treatment plans, disability recipients can extend the leave of absence from their last public employer to five years, from three years. Also, their continued eligibility for a disability benefit is evaluated based on their last public employment position, not any position, for an additional two years while they remain active in the program.

For more information, refer to the disability page on the OPERS website, and check out our latest Disability Program leaflet.