City leaders said they are taking action to ensure first responders’ workers’ compensation cases are properly addressed after public outcry over a Fort Worth firefighter being denied medical services.
Caleb Halvorson was severely injured on duty when a garage door fell on him while fighting a fire in the Historic Southside in September. Months later, he was denied rehabilitation services, his family said.
In a statement sent to council members Friday, City Manager Jay Chapa said the human resources workers’ comp group will add an additional position to serve as a case manager specifically for first responders.
He also said the city will better communicate with first responders to better understand their experiences and “advise them of their rights and responsibilities under Texas Law.”
“Please know the city works consistently to get the best care possible for all of our injured employees, this employee included, while remaining compliant with Texas laws that govern workers’ compensation,” the statement read.
On Thursday, Halvorson’s mother Alisha Cook posted on Facebook about the firefighter’s experience with Sedgwick, which manages workers’ compensation claims for the city of Fort Worth. The continuous passive motion machine Halvorson needed to rehabilitate his knee after a surgery this month was denied, she wrote.
City Council member Charlie Lauersdorf posted on social media that he was “declaring war” on Sedgwick, writing that he was “done watching them screw over the very people who keep this city safe.”
The next day, the city’s human resource department approved Halvorson receiving the continuous passive motion machine. Afterwards, Lauersdorf told the Fort Worth Report he would gather facts to figure out what change can be done at the city level.
Alongside Lauersdorf, state Reps. Jared Patterson and John McQueeney expressed public support for the Fort Worth firefighter. In a statement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, they said they will be “watching to ensure that (the workers’ comp provider) follows through … with continued care.”
Halvorson was injured last year while on duty after a garage door collapsed on him and left him trapped in the burning building. He spent 34 days in the burn unit after being rushed to Parkland Hospital. He suffered a dislocated knee, several third degree burns and multiple ligament tears. Halvorson said that as of Jan. 20, the firefighter has undergone six surgeries since the fire.
Halvorson said he’s experienced other delays related to his recovery. When the machine was denied by Sedgwick, he finally decided to go public.
“That was my tipping point. I had to say something. I’m not getting the care that I need — you can’t just not rehab a knee after surgery,” Halvorson said.
He had a five-day delay between knee surgery and receiving the continuous passive motion machine, Halvorson said, adding that he is now “so far behind” from where he is supposed to be for the workout program.
When asked for comment, a Sedgwick spokesperson referred the Fort Worth Report to city staff for a statement. A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to comment before publication.
Halvorson said he is glad the workers’ compensation issues are being resolved. He noted that many first responders going through similar issues didn’t receive the media attention he was afforded, both after his injury and during recovery.
“If my story is getting denied through workers’ comp, what about the next guy that gets injured?” he added.
Halvorson said it was unfortunate that it took going public with the situation for the denial to be fixed. He stressed that his desire to return to the Fort Worth Fire Department remains unchanged and that he’s excited to rejoin his brothers in the future.
Still, he expressed thanks to city officials as they look to solve the bureaucratic hurdles he had to endure.
“I’m very excited to see what happens with all of that,” he said. “I guess only time will tell if it really does get changed.”
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
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