No one expects to go to work and suffer a serious injury while there. Unfortunately, it happens more than people think. After suffering a work injury, you will incur high medical bills and you may not be able to return to work right away to pay for them. The workers’ compensation system in Arizona is intended to help in these situations.
Workers’ compensation does provide benefits to people who were injured on the job but to obtain them, you must follow certain rules and regulations. One of these involves the doctor you see for your injuries. Below, our Arizona workers’ compensation lawyer explains further.
The Importance of Seeing a Doctor After a Workplace Injury
After suffering a workplace injury, it is critical that you see a doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you seek medical treatment, the less of a chance there is that your injuries will become worse. It is critical to see a doctor immediately after becoming hurt at work. Tell your employer, manager, or supervisor about the accident and tell them that you need to leave work to receive treatment. At this point, you have the right to see any doctor of your choosing. It is often best to visit an emergency room after a workplace accident that resulted in injury.
Even if you believe that your injuries are not serious, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible after a workplace accident. Certain injuries, such as concussions and whiplash, do not present any symptoms right away. A doctor will examine you and will know what types of injuries to look for, and how to identify them.
Additionally, waiting to see a doctor can also hurt any workers’ compensation claim you file in the future. The insurance company will likely argue that you were not hurt because you did not seek medical attention. If you see a doctor immediately after a workplace accident, it will establish a clear link between the incident and your injuries. This will make it much more difficult for the insurer to deny your benefits.
Can You Choose Your Doctor When on Workers’ Compensation?
Selecting a doctor to treat your injuries after a workplace accident is an important decision. Not only will it impact your physical recovery, but any workers’ compensation benefits you may receive, as well. Whether you can choose your own doctor depends on the type of workers’ compensation insurance your employer carries.
If your employer is self-insured, they likely contract medical care with a doctor registered with the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA). In this case, you must receive treatment from a physician selected by your employer. The majority of employers in Arizona, however, carry workers’ compensation insurance they purchased from a private provider. In this case, you have the right to choose your own doctor.
Regardless of the type of insurance your employer carries, they have the right to require that you see a doctor they choose for the first visit. After that you can see a doctor of your choosing if your employer has private insurance. If you continue to see the doctor your employer chose after the initial appointment, you must continue to see that physician for any further treatment for your workplace injuries.
The doctor who treats you is very important to your workers’ compensation claim. They will determine how long it will take you to recover from your injuries, if your injury is permanent, and the type of treatment you need. Your workers’ compensation claim, and any benefits you receive, will only cover what the physician deems medically necessary to treat your injuries. Due to this, you should select a doctor that has your best interests in mind. Physicians hired by insurance companies often prioritize lower payouts for the insurer rather than providing patients with the best treatment they need.
Can You Change Doctors While on Workers’ Compensation?
After you have chosen a doctor to treat your workplace injury, you are not allowed to change healthcare providers without first obtaining approval from your current physician, the insurance company representing your employer, or the ICA. If the doctor you are currently seeing does not approve the change, you can contact your employer’s insurance company and ask for approval to change doctors.
If the insurance company refuses to allow you to change doctors, you can submit a request to the ICA. When applying to the ICA to change doctors, you must do so in writing. Your application should also include the following:
- Your claim information
- The name and address of your current physician and the name of the doctor you want to change to
- A brief explanation of why you want to change doctors
- Your signature
After the ICA reviews your application, they will approve or deny your request. The ICA may also contact your current physician and/or your employer’s insurance company when making a decision about whether to approve or deny your request. Until the change has been approved by the ICA, it is critical that you do not change doctors. Doing so without official approval can result in a denial of benefits.
Additionally, before you change doctors, you should also choose a doctor you want to see instead. Not only will you need this for the ICA, but you also want to make sure your new doctor has the necessary experience treating your type of injury. You also need to make sure that your new doctor is willing to take you as a patient.
Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Arizona Can Help
If you are hurt in a workplace accident, it is important to know your rights, including when you can choose your own doctor. At Snow, Carpio & Weekley, PLC, our Arizona workers’ compensation lawyer will answer any questions you have and guide you through the process so you obtain the best outcome possible. Contact us today to request a free consultation with our experienced attorney and to get the legal help you need.
