Workers’ compensation insurance is important for employers. They secure indemnification from liability when they carry coverage. Employers that comply with state rules regarding workers’ compensation insurance typically do not have to worry about employees filing lawsuits over injuries sustained on the job. Workers also benefit from the program. If they get hurt while working or acquire medical conditions caused by their jobs, they can file a claim for benefits.
Workers’ compensation can provide full medical coverage for necessary treatment after a work injury. Workers may also receive partial wage replacement through disability benefits. Much of the claims process is subject to the management of a physician. A medical doctor decides if the condition relates to a worker’s employment, what care they need and what accommodations they require.
Doctors decide when workers reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) and have stopped responding to treatment and when they are ready to return to work. Their assessment of the situation has a profound impact on what benefits the worker receives.
Who has the authority to select the doctor managing an injured professional’s treatment during a worker’s compensation claim?
Employers typically pick the physician
Workers’ compensation rules are different in every state. In Idaho, state statutes require that employers provide coverage, and they also allow the employer to select the physician or medical facility providing the care for the worker, at least initially.
Workers typically do not receive care through their primary care physicians but rather specific professionals selected by their employers or the workers’ compensation insurance company in some cases. However, if there is a dispute about their treatment, workers can sometimes request a change of physicians.
Even in cases where employees see a doctor chosen by their employers, the doctor should prioritize the patient’s optimal recovery and best interests when establishing a treatment plan and evaluating their condition. In some cases, employees may need help asserting themselves when there is a dispute about their treatment or their ability to return to work.
Consulting with a workers’ compensation attorney is often a smart decision for those injured on the job and concerned about their finances and medical care. Injured employees may need help understanding their rights, especially when there are questions about their treatment plan or a doctor’s assessment of their medical challenges, and that’s okay.