Workers who develop injuries or illnesses caused by their jobs often need support in Pennsylvania. Employers typically have to provide workers’ compensation coverage for all of their direct-hire workers.
Injured and sickened employees can file a claim for benefits after they get injured in an incident or diagnosed with a work-acquired medical condition. The medical professional assisting with the treatment required in a workers’ compensation claim plays an important role. They establish what accommodations an employee may require to return to work. They establish a treatment plan and decide when a worker is able to safely go back to their job.
Who typically selects a medical professional for providing treatment in a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation case?
Employers provide lists in many cases
Workers’ compensation rules are different in every state. Some states allow workers to choose any medical professional they want to treat them as long as they comply with the workers’ compensation program. In other states, employers or insurance companies make that decision during the claims process.
In Pennsylvania, the law is a bit more nuanced. Workers can sometimes select their own physicians. To do so, however, they must first review whether or not their employer provides a list of pre-selected healthcare professionals.
Many workplaces provide a panel of six or more physicians who can treat injured workers. The employee can choose the physician but must select from the list the company provides them. If the employer does not already have a list posted at the time the worker initiates their claim, then the employee can theoretically select the medical professional of their choosing.
It is also worth noting that workers can sometimes obtain a second opinion from a different physician. In cases where the doctor overseeing a claim recommends surgical treatment, the employee can potentially ask for a second opinion through workers’ compensation. Employers with questions about the severity or origins of an injury could also request an examination performed by a different medical professional as part of the claims process.
Understanding the rules that govern workers’ compensation benefits can help employees get the support they require. Those who make careful choices about the physician providing their care may ultimately feel happier about the outcome of their claim and their medical treatment alike.