When recovering from a work injury, the last thing you need is to receive treatment from a physician who doesn’t support your workers’ compensation claim. After all, your medical records will play a significant role in proving the extent of your injuries and how much compensation you should receive.
A supportive doctor should not only provide important medical treatment but also refer you to specialists, set work restrictions and be honest about whether you have a permanent disability. Suppose you’re unhappy with your doctor; you may wonder if you can be able to change physicians. Read along to learn what workers’ compensation laws in California stipulate.
You can switch doctors, but there are conditions you have to meet first
Employers often direct the injured employee to an urgent care facility when workplace accidents occur. But what if you’re not happy with the pre designated medical provider? You can select your treating doctor in California if workers’ compensation insurance covers you.
Furthermore, you’ll need health insurance coverage and should have notified your employer of the same through writing before the workplace accident. And lastly, your preferred medical care provider under your separate health insurance coverage should have agreed to treat you if you are ever in a workplace accident.
This is to say that, in California, you can only change doctors if you had already designated a preferred medical care provider before the accident happened. This is to guarantee you can access reliable medical care when you need it.
Changing doctors when treatment has already begun
Most of the time, workplace injury victims will only realize they aren’t happy with their medical provider after the treatment has begun. Suppose you feel your physician does not understand your unique treatment needs. In that case, you can switch doctors within 30 days after your work-related injury, but only if your insurance company or employer has no medical provider network ready.
Suppose you meet all prerequisites; the person handling your workers’ compensation claim will choose a new doctor for you. However, if you have a preferred medical provider, you can choose to work with them.
When you sustain a workplace injury, it’s important to trust the provider and feel supported by them. After all, their assessment will significantly impact how much you receive from your workers’ compensation claim.
