General Questions
How do I apply for workers' compensation benefits?
Applying for workers' compensation benefits can be completed in a few different ways. You can complete a First Report of Injury (FROI) online. You can also fax a completed FROI to WSI at 701-328-3820 or 888-786-8695 or mail it to PO Box 5585, Bismarck, ND 58506-5585. Call us at 800-777-5033 with questions.
How do I submit my payroll or update my account information?
Access payroll reporting or update account demographics and contacts in WSI’s online portal, myWSI. Refer to myWSI Support Center for more information. Call us at 800-777-5033 with questions.
How can I request a letter of Good Standing for the North Dakota Secretary of State?
Before WSI will send a letter of good standing to the Secretary of State for an employer, you must complete the Verification of Non-Employment form. Call us at 800-777-5033 with questions.
Do I need WSI coverage?
As an employer or prospective employer in North Dakota, you must provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for your employees. Refer to Insurance Coverage Information to find out if you need to apply for workers’ compensation coverage with WSI. Call us at 800-777-5033 with questions.
How do I submit a medical bill?
A medical provider may submit a bill electronically through Carisk Intelligent Clearinghouse. Refer to Billing & Payment for complete information. Call us at 800-777-5033 with questions.
Will WSI be sending a W2 or 1099 for taxes to injured employees?
No, wages received from WSI are generally considered nontaxable and no forms will be sent.
How can I verify is an employer has WSI coverage?
To verify if an employer has coverage with WSI use Employer Search.
I need a North Dakota Contractor's License. How do I get a Letter of Good Standing sent to the North Dakota Secretary of State's office?
If you have an active account with WSI, you may upload a copy of your Certificate of Payment via the North Dakota Secretary of State website
If you do not have an active account with WSI, See Verification of Nonemployment
What's the average time it takes for WSI to send a Letter of Good Standing to the ND Secretary of State's office once a Verification of Non-Employment is submitted?
It may take 7-10 business days for WSI to process a Verification of Nonemployment and send the Letter of Good Standing to the ND Secretary of State.
How do I update my business information and account contacts online?
Update your business demographics, contact information, and manage user access for your account online in myWSI.
Click here to learn more about managing user access in myWSI.
Insurance Coverage Questions
I am starting a business in North Dakota. What do I need to do?
Make sure you have applied for coverage with WSI. Here is some additional information on starting a business in North Dakota.
Who needs WSI coverage?
North Dakota workers' compensation law, with limited exceptions, requires all employers to insure all employees including full-time, part-time, seasonal and occasional workers
Does an out-of-state business need coverage with WSI?
An employer whose employment results in significant contacts with North Dakota, or enters into employment agreements in North Dakota must secure coverage with WSI.
An employer has significant contacts with North Dakota when:
- Any employee earns or expects to earn 25% or more of the employee's gross annual wage or income from that employer for services rendered within North Dakota, or
- 25% or the employer's gross annual payroll is payable to employees for services rendered in North Dakota, or
- An employer hires an employee in North Dakota for work in North Dakota. If you come into North Dakota and hire workers here, WSI coverage is required.
For additional information, see Coverage Requirements for Out-of-State Employers and Reciprocal Agreements
Can I take my North Dakota based employees out-of-state?
North Dakota employers who carry workers' compensation coverage with WSI face a unique challenge when they take their business operations outside the state of North Dakota. As a state agency, and not an insurance agency, WSI cannot write coverage for exposure outside the state. WSI may be able to provide limited coverage for your North Dakota based employees under circumstances in which the employee has worked outside North Dakota for a period of not more than 30 consecutive calendar days.
How do remote employees affect my requirement of coverage?
The workplace is changing and many employees can now work from anywhere. Having employees who work remotely may affect an employer's requirement of coverage with WSI.
North Dakota employers with employees working in/from other states
If you are a North Dakota based business and you hire employees to work in/from states other than North Dakota, you must obtain workers' compensation coverage in that state. WSI is unable to write coverage for employees that do not work in North Dakota.
See North Dakota Based Business-Employees Working Out-of-State
Out of state employers with employees working in North Dakota
Employers who enter into employment agreements in North Dakota must secure coverage with WSI for those employees. Unlike other states, North Dakota law does not allow private insurers to underwrite workers' compensation insurance in North Dakota. WSI is the sole provider and regulator of workers' compensation in the state of North Dakota. Employers will want to be certain they have the proper coverage in place before hiring workers based in North Dakota.
How do I apply for coverage?
Complete an Application for Insurance online.
What is Elective Coverage?
With the exception of federal and railroad employees, an employer may choose to purchase elective coverage for himself/herself and for any employees otherwise exempt. This coverage is not required by law. Coverage becomes effective upon WSI's approval of a completed, signed application and an elective coverage contract (when applicable).
Exempt from Title 65
- Owner, partner, corporate officer or spouse
- Employer's children under the age of 22
- Certain licensed real estate brokers
- Newspaper delivery personnel
- Farm and ranch labor
- Certain custom farm operations
- Household domestic workers
- Employees engaged in the operation of a place of worship
- Federal and railroad employees
How do I get proof of WSI coverage?
An account in good standing with WSI is issued a Certificate of Payment. You may access your Certificate of Payment at myWSI.
How do I check to see if an employer has coverage with WSI?
In order to see if an employer has coverage with WSI, go to Employer Search
How is workers' compensation affected if I sell or buy a business?
When a business owner thinks about purchasing another business, he or she probably considers workforce changes, tax implications and other common areas of concern. A lesser known or often overlooked consideration is the impact the purchase could have on workers’ compensation costs. Click here for additional information on selling or buying a business.
Payroll/Payment Questions
How do I access the myWSI online portal?
Click here to learn more about accessing the myWSI online portal.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact customer service at 800-777-5033 or 701-328-3800.
How do I submit my payroll or volunteer information?
All employers are required to submit their payroll data and volunteer information through myWSI.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact customer service at 800-777-5033 or 701-328-3800.
Click here to learn more about payroll reporting
Click here to learn more about volunteer reporting
How are medical assessments calculated?
An employer is responsible for a portion of the medical expenses for each claim filed. Employers are billed monthly for assessable claims costs paid during the previous month.
How do I enroll in AutoPay?
To set up recurring payments by credit card or ACH method login to myWSI
- Open Account Billing from the left navigation or employer dashboard
- Select Make a Payment
- Choose payment type Set up AutoPay.
Click here to learn more about AutoPay
How do I make a payment without logging into myWSI?
Payment can be made online at workforcesafety.com
- Select Quick Links then QuickPay
- Enter your statement ID listed on the front of your billing statement
- Enter credit card information
Click here to learn more about QuickPay
Claim Questions
How do I file a claim?
You may file a claim by completing the First Report of Injury online.
Should I file a claim or submit an Incident Report?
If a worker was injured and medical attention is not immediately being sought, provide information regarding that incident by completing an
Incident Report. The incident report should be filed by midnight (central time) of the next WSI business day following the injury date.
If that worker later seeks medical attention and a claim is received by WSI within 14 calendar days of the incident, the medical assessment charge will be waived.
Without the filing of the Incident Report, the $250/$350 medical assessment will still be charged if a claim is eventually filed.
How do I get a report that shows my claims?
Employers can generate claims loss run reports in myWSI.
Click here to learn more about Employer Account Reports
Medical Provider Billing Questions
What are the timely filing requirements for submitting a bill to WSI?
WSI requires a medical provider to submit a bill within one year from the date of service. If WSI has either not yet made a liability decision or reverses a previous liability decision, the medical provider may submit a bill within one year from the date WSI accepted liability.
Does the claim need to be accepted prior to submitting a bill for a medical service?
No. WSI does not need to accept a claim before a medical provider may submit a medical bill.
How do I submit a bill to WSI for payment?
A medical provider may submit a bill electronically through Carisk Intelligent Clearinghouse. Refer to the Billing & Payment section for complete information.
What is a B&E Lookup Fail in an electronic bill rejection?
B&E is an abbreviation for Benefits and Eligibility, which is a validation edit on submitted bills. The most common reasons for failing the validation are an incorrect WSI claim number or an incorrect date of injury (must be +/- 3 days to pass validation).
If needed, a medical provider may contact wsipr@nd.gov to obtain assistance with determining the source of an error.
How does WSI reimburse for a billed charge?
WSI reimburses for a service in accordance with the WSI Fee Schedule for both an in-state and out-of-state medical provider. A medical provider should access the applicable Fee Schedule Guideline for complete information.
Is there a timely payment requirement?
No, there is not a specific timeframe for payment. Section 92-01-02-45 of the North Dakota Administrative Code states payment shall be made “as soon as reasonably possible”.
The average turnaround time for processing a bill is 3-4 weeks.
How do I submit an appeal for a denial or reduction of payment?
The reason codes in WSI's remittance advice provide a detailed explanation of how WSI processed a charge, including whether a denied or reduced charge is eligible for an appeal. For a charge identified as eligible for an appeal, a medical provider must submit an appeal within 30 days from the date of the remittance advice by completing the Medical Bill Appeal (M6) form or online in myWSI. A medical provider should include a detailed explanation of the appeal reason and additional supporting documentation.
Does WSI reimburse for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) products or supplies?
When prescribed by a treating medical provider for a condition directly related to a work injury, WSI may reimburse for DME. A medical provider should review WSI's DME Guide for additional information on coverage and prior authorization requirements.
Do I need to complete the Capability Assessment (C3) form at every appointment?
Yes, a capability assessment should occur at every office visit and naturally change over time. The primary medical treating provider may utilize WSI's C3 form or a form unique to their facility to document an injured employee's capabilities.
Medical Provider Prior Authorization Questions
What services requires prior authorization?
A service may require prior authorization from either the injured employee's claims adjuster or the Utilization Review department. A medical provider is responsible for reviewing the Prior Authorization Guide to determine whether a service requires authorization. Visit the Prior Authorization section for complete information.
How long does WSI have to complete a UR request?
Upon receipt of the request and supporting documentation, WSI has three business days to complete the review. Visit the Prior Authorization section for complete information.
Can we request an extension on the timeframe for a previously approved authorization request?
If an approved surgery does not occur within 3 months (6 months for elective fusions), the medical provider must resubmit the request with updated medical information. For chiropractic care, therapy treatment, or work hardening/conditioning, a medical provider may request up to a 2-week extension by calling the UR department at 701-328-5990 or 888-777-5871 before the current approval expires. Visit the Prior Authorization section for complete information.
Medical Provider Enrollment/Registration Questions
How do I register with WSI?
WSI requires a medical provider complete a Medical Provider Payee Registration form for each group/billing NPI used to bill WSI. An individual rendering provider does not need to submit a separate registration. Visit the Provider Registration section for complete details.
Do I need to register each of my practitioners with WSI?
No, WSI does not require a separate registration for an individual rendering provider associated with the practice.
How do I notify WSI of a change in business name, address, or other information?
A provider should submit all demographic updates to WSI by completing the Medical Provider Payee Registration form.
Medical Provider Resources
Does WSI have an online portal?
Yes. The myWSI portal allows a registered provider to:
- Review bill status and processing information
- Obtain a remittance advice
- Submit a bill appeal
- Generate an overpayment recovery report
- Submit or appeal a prior authorization request
- Track the WSI response
- Access letters WSI has sent to the practice regarding prior authorization, billing, or medical records
- Respond to a WSI medical records request
- Verify and update demographic information
For more information visit the myWSI Support Center | North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance.
How do I request education from WSI?
To request a visit from WSI staff or discuss education opportunities, click here.
Return to Work Questions
When do I return to work after an injury?
Getting back to work is an important part of the healing process. Your medical provider will decide if you are able to work with some restrictions or released to go back to your pre-injury duties. If you are released to work in any capacity, you must notify your employer and claims adjuster immediately.
What if I can't return to my pre-injury job or employer?
WSI has vocational case managers available to develop a return to work plan and assist with work search.
What if I have severe or complex injury?
WSI has nurse case managers available to coordinate medical care and facilitate recommended treatment plans. They concentrate primarily on catastrophic or complex medical claims.