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Committee approves changes to speed disability annuity approvals at GERS
Summary
The committee voted to advance legislation to allow certain clear‑cut GERS disability annuity cases to bypass the medical review committee, shortening processing times and reducing administrative costs.
The committee voted June 23 to report favorably a bill that would streamline approval procedures for disability annuities administered by the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS).
Sponsor Senator Milton E. Potter introduced Bill 36‑0012, which would amend Title 3, Chapter 27 of the Virgin Islands Code to allow cases certified by a requisite number of GERS‑selected physicians to bypass the Committee of Medical Review. Dwayne Cowood, chairman of the GERS board of trustees, told the committee that the change would create a “fast track” for clear‑cut cases and reduce the time applicants wait to begin receiving annuities. Cowood said hearings and committee review can be costly and time consuming; he estimated committee hearings carry significant administrative costs and that streamlining could save months for applicants.
Administrator Angel E. Dawson and GERS staff testified in support. They described the current practice in which system‑selected physicians examine applicants, produce reports and those reports are then reviewed by the medical review committee which interviews applicants and makes recommendations to the GERS board. Under the proposed change, if the required number of GERS‑selected physicians conclude in favor of the applicant, the application may bypass the medical review committee step and move directly toward annuity initiation, while cases without such consensus would retain the existing review.
Committee members supported the change as a way to reduce delays for applicants in vulnerable financial situations. The committee approved amendment language (substituting “any” for “all” in two places and clarifying the medical review committee reference) and voted to report the bill favorably; the clerk recorded seven yeas on the roll call. The committee’s action forwards the amended bill to Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.
Why it matters: GERS disability annuities support employees who cannot work because of medical conditions. Trustees and staff argued the change preserves due process while reducing unnecessary administrative steps and cost for clearly documented disability cases.
