If employees get injured at work, they may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Benefits are also available to those diagnosed with a work-acquired medical condition. Most workers’ compensation claims require medical care. Some of them may also force employees to take a leave of absence from their jobs.
Workers’ compensation can provide coverage for necessary treatment and disability benefits while they are away from work. The input of the doctor handling the worker’s treatment is very important during workers’ compensation claims. The doctor determines what functional limitations the worker has and when they are ready to return to their job.
Doctors can also decide if a worker has failed to comply with medical instructions or if they have stopped responding to treatment. Having a doctor who keeps the worker’s long-term recovery as their top priority is of the utmost importance.
Who selects the physician providing the worker’s treatment?
Either party can make that decision
Both employers and injured workers can sometimes select the doctor treating an injured worker. The employer can choose and can communicate the selection of a physician in writing to the worker.
If the company fails to do so or provides written permission to the employee, then the worker can choose the doctor overseeing their treatment. Either the employer or the worker can request a change of physician when treatment has lasted for 60 days.
The ability to select the physician providing care or to request a change of physician can make a major difference for workers in need of treatment because of a work-related health challenge. In scenarios where there are disputes about what doctor should provide the treatment or the status of the claim because of a doctor’s determinations, workers may need help getting the benefits they need.
Seeking support throughout the workers’ compensation claims process can allow an employee to focus on healing instead of on bureaucratic red tape. An injured worker always has the option of partnering with a lawyer throughout the claims process or when issues arise to ensure they have the assistance they require to obtain appropriate benefits. Those with help can learn about their rights and rely on having support throughout the process.