Who Chooses the Doctor?

The workers’ compensation system provides important rights and responsibilities for both employees and employers.  Employees can rest easy knowing that they can receive benefits and medical care costs if they suffer a work-related injury.  Employers can also feel a sense of relief knowing that the workers’ compensation system means that the employee cannot sue for the injury, except in certain limited circumstances.  Despite these reassuring facts, workers’ compensation does require several important procedural steps.  One of the most obvious is that the injured employee will have to get medical attention.  As the medical diagnoses and care are clearly an integral part of the workers’ compensation case, employers may wonder who gets to choose the doctor for the employee?

The medical care provider plays an essential role in the workers’ compensation case.  The doctor will diagnose the condition and determine if the injury was a result of working conditions.  The doctor will also decide how long the employee must stay out of work and what accommodations are necessary when the employee does return to the work force.  The doctor will also decide when the employee’s medical condition has stabilized and whether the employee has any permanent disability.

Before an injury occurs, an employee has the right to “predesignate” his or her personal doctor.  This means that if and when the employee sustains a work related injury, he or she can go directly to that personal, pre-designated physician for treatment.  California labor code 4600 requires employers to give employees the necessary paperwork to predesignate a treating physician.

If an employee has failed to predesignate a health care provider, then he or she will likely not be able to choose the initial physician that he or she sees for treatment of the industrial injury.  Typically the workers’ compensation insurance provider or the employer itself will have a “medical provider network.”  The employee will need to choose a doctor who is included in that network.  There are some important exceptions to this general rule.  First, if the employee needs emergency care, it is not required that he or she use a physician including in the medical provider network.  In addition, if the employer has failed to provide certain required notices or information, the employee may also not be required to use a doctor in the MPN.

We have extensive experience helping our clients understand the workers’ compensation process and how it can impact their business.  Contact us today for a consultation to talk about your business.

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