Can I Choose My Own Doctor After a Workplace Accident?

May 22, 2023

It takes time for patients to find doctors that accept their insurance. Yet, once one is established, patients hesitate to consult with medical professionals who are outside of that comfort zone. This situation can arise when an employee making a Workers’ Compensation claim is told to be evaluated by other physicians who participate with the employer’s insurance plan. Is seeing a participating physician required, or do you have a choice? If your Workers’ Compensation claim is approved, these will be limited.

These plans have different guidelines, but as a general rule, they offer claimants a list of participating doctors. You will need to choose from those if the employer accepts your claim. They need to provide a minimum of six choices, and a list should be posted at your place of employment. The employer must also provide a written notice showing that you must see one of those providers.

Employers must also have employees sign an acknowledgment of seeing the list. You must also continue any subsequent medical treatment with the same provider for 90 days after the first visit. After that, you can see another doctor, but your Workers’ Compensation provider will need a week’s notice before you move on. Once a physician has been seen on two consecutive visits, that provider will be the primary care physician for your Workers’ Compensation claim.

Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me Get Another Doctor?

Employees must follow their Workers’ Compensation providers’ protocols for using participating physicians, which can lead to problems. An employer-appointed doctor might not be working in your best interests, which could lead to a claim delay, unprofessional treatment, or denial.

Contacting a lawyer at the first sign of a problem is essential; many offer free initial consultations. If you have a legitimate work-related illness or injury and the plan’s physician offers poor care or rejects your claim, your lawyer can fight to protect your rights. They can start by helping to complete the necessary paperwork on time, including appeals.

Part of filing an appeal is the evidence-gathering process to support the legitimacy of your claim. Your lawyer can interview anyone who may have witnessed your accident and others who can testify about your current condition. They can also organize your medical records and research other evidence to strengthen the claim. In some cases, lawyers also help their clients choose other physicians.

Contact Our Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton For Trusted Legal Guidance With Your Claim

Straightening out a complicated Workers’ Compensation claim and getting the best doctor can be difficult. For assistance, speak with our experienced Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We can fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Complete our online form or call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) for a free consultation.

We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.