Coordinating SIMP Referrals for Injured Workers From Bellingham

Convivio Health's Lynnwood location offers SIMP pain management for Bellingham workers whose recovery has stalled. Our intake team works with providers, claim managers, and vocational partners to evaluate referral fit, set up evaluations, and coordinate the authorization steps needed to move care forward.

Submit a Referral

Request Program Fit Review

Before scheduling or making travel plans, confirm with your claim manager or insurer what is approved, what documentation is needed, and what travel-related support may be available for your claim.

What Makes SIMP the Right Referral for a Bellingham Patient

Bellingham's economy includes significant employment in agriculture and food processing, wood products manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. These industries carry consistent occupational injury exposure across musculoskeletal and trauma categories. When a patient from these sectors presents with chronic pain that has not resolved through physical therapy, medication management, or specialist consultation, and functional limitations are preventing return to work, SIMP may be the clinically indicated next step.

SIMP is not a standard specialty referral. It is an intensive, structured program that brings together multiple clinical disciplines including physical, behavioral, and functional specialists working from a shared treatment plan. This level of coordinated care is not available locally in Bellingham. Convivio Health's Lynnwood location provides access to SIMP within a practical travel distance for most Bellingham patients, and our intake team can help determine whether a given patient's presentation meets the criteria for the program.

When referring outside the patient's local community, Washington MARFS guidance calls for chart documentation that identifies the medical reason for the referral and explains why seeking care outside the community is clinically appropriate. Convivio can support this with program information that helps you frame the outside-community rationale.

How to Initiate a SIMP Referral From Bellingham

Talk to intake before preparing a full packet

The fastest way to assess whether a Bellingham patient is a SIMP candidate is a direct conversation with Convivio Health's intake team. Provide a brief clinical overview covering diagnosis, treatment history, functional status, and work situation, and the team can give you a preliminary read on fit. This prevents time spent assembling documentation for a patient who may not be appropriate for the program.

Submit the formal referral when ready

Once fit looks likely, assemble your referral documentation and send it through Convivio's referral channel. Intake will review the full packet, confirm program eligibility, and communicate the next steps to the referring party and claim manager.

Flag the referral as an outside-community referral

For Bellingham-area patients, the shorter travel distance to Lynnwood is an asset, but mileage and any travel-related costs still require claim manager authorization. Let the claim manager know early that this is a SIMP referral to a Lynnwood location and that program fit review is underway.

Getting Travel Authorized for Bellingham Patients

The travel distance from Bellingham to Lynnwood is relatively short, but reimbursement for mileage and any related travel costs is still the claim manager's or insurer's decision. What helps the authorization move forward:

From the referring provider:

Chart notes that document the clinical indication for SIMP
A clear statement that SIMP is not available locally in Bellingham
Explanation of why Lynnwood is appropriate

From Convivio Health:

Program description and intake contact info
Scheduling details and confirmation
Appointment verification

The more specific your chart documentation, the smoother the claim manager's authorization review tends to go. This is especially true for a program like SIMP, which may be unfamiliar to some adjusters.

Referral Coordination Process

Fit inquiry or referral initiated
Contact intake by phone or submission
Clinical review
Intake assesses SIMP appropriateness
Scheduling options communicated
Available Lynnwood scheduling provided
Claim manager coordination
Convivio provides program details
Authorization confirmed
Claim manager notifies patient/provider
Evaluation and program begin
Patient arrives at Lynnwood for intake

What to Include in the Referral

Ensure these items are included to prevent delays in the Bellingham to Lynnwood coordination process.

File Upload 4d0a

Click to upload

PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/CSV, JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF

Note: If SIMP program fit is uncertain, submit what you have and the intake team will advise on what additional information would help clarify eligibility.

Patient name, DOB, and contact info

L&I or private insurance claim number

Date of injury and diagnosis

Claim manager name, phone, and email

Referring provider contact info

Chart notes from past 60-90 days

Prior treatment and outcomes

Current work status and limitations

Activity Prescription Form

Authorization status if in progress

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my patient is a good SIMP candidate?

Generally, SIMP candidates have a documented history of standard conservative care without adequate functional recovery, significant pain-related functional limitations, and a workers' compensation claim in good standing. The intake team can help assess whether a specific patient's presentation is a fit.

Is the Lynnwood location accessible for Bellingham patients?

Yes. Lynnwood is a manageable distance south of Bellingham, making it one of the more accessible referral options for Bellingham patients compared to specialty programs that may require significantly longer travel.

Does Convivio Health handle the travel reimbursement process?

No. Convivio Health provides program information and appointment documentation. Mileage reimbursement and any other travel-related costs are submitted through the insurer or claim manager's standard process.

What if the patient has barriers to transportation?

Raise this with the claim manager early. Transportation barriers don't disqualify a patient from referral but may affect scheduling and authorization. The intake team can discuss scheduling flexibility if this is a concern.

Do you accept L&I claims and private insurance?

Yes. Confirm current payer acceptance with the intake team as part of the referral process.

Bellingham Area Providers:

Our Intake Team Is Ready

Lynnwood is close enough to Bellingham that SIMP is a practical option for most Bellingham patients. If you have a patient who fits the profile and want to discuss fit before preparing documentation, call the intake team. If you are ready to submit, use the referral link below.