You are entitled to medical care and payment of your medical bills when injured in a Missouri work compensation case.
While that may sound great, under Missouri Workers’ Compensation Law you don’t get to pick the doctor. Your employer will choose the health care provider you see.
You can refuse and see whatever doctor you want, but you will have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Unfortunately, most health insurance plans will exclude work comp injury treatment. That is why you should ask what doctor to see before you go to the doctor. Make a note of who told you to see the doctor you were sent to.
You should not be responsible for or any co-pays for the employer directed treatment.
Unfortunately, your employer getting to choose your doctor can be the biggest issue that causes problems for you. (This is not to say you cannot get fine medical care. You can.)
When we say your “employer” gets to choose, what really happens is your employer’s insurance company gets to choose. The insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case. This is a “volume business” for the adjuster and his or her incentive is to get your medical treatment wrapped up as quickly and as cheaply as possible.
It’s also a volume business for the doctor. He or she wants the next case from the insurance adjuster.
Some adjusters will try to override the doctor’s opinion of treatment. This is where having a Missouri workers comp lawyer early in the process can benefit you.
You should continue to make your complaints to the doctor, nurse or physical therapist you are sent to. You should document your problems every time you visit a health care provider if you are still having problems.
Follow the treatment as prescribed and show up to your appointments with the doctor or physical therapist. If you don’t show up you are hurting your case.
Our Workers Comp Law Firm in Missouri has represented clients who have suffered all types of Missouri Work Comp injuries. We have an excellent history of helping injured workers get the financial compensation that they and their families deserve and need.
If you have questions about how to go about filing a claim for a Missouri Workers Compensation injury or to schedule a meeting with Jason Krebs, call us today at (800)345-0535. Our practice has dealt with hundreds of cases involving injured Missouri workers and we can help you in receiving the compensation you are entitled to.