The short answer is: It depends on the state. In some states, the direction of care within workers' compensation is controlled by the employer or their insurance carrier, while in other states it is controlled by the injured worker. To complicate matters further, certain states offer a blend, whereby the control is divided between both the employer and the injured worker.
Because each state is different, it can be very confusing for not just patients, but also doctors. The purpose of this post is to provide a state-by-state overview of the direction of care of work comp cases (and the implications for doctors) for each state.
For Workers' Compensation cases in Alabama, the Doctor is usually chosen by the employer or insurance carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Alabama, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Alaska, the Doctor is usually chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Alaska, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Arizona, the Doctor is usually chosen by the injured worker, except in the case of self-insured employers who can control direction of care.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Arizona, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Arkansas, the Doctor is usually chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Arkansas, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in California, the Doctor is usually chosen by the injured worker, BUT they must choose from a Doctor listed on their employer's Medical Provider Network (MPN).
For further information about the Work Comp system in California, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Colorado, the Doctor is usually chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Colorado, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Connecticut, the Doctor for the initial treatment is chosen by the employer or carrier, but all subsequent doctors can be chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Connecticut, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Delaware, the Doctor for the initial treatment is chosen by the employer or carrier, but the injured worker may simultaneously see a separate doctor of their own choice.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Delaware, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Florida, the Doctor for is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Florida, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Georgia, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but their choice is restricted to one of six Doctors provided to them by their employer.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Georgia, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Hawaii, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Hawaii, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Idaho, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Idaho, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Illinois, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but if the employer has a Preferred Provider Network, then the injured worker must choose the doctor from this list.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Illinois, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Illinois, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Indiana, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Iowa, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Indiana, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Kansas, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Kansas, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Kentucky, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Kentucky, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Louisiana, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Louisiana, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Maine, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, however Doctors for the first 10 days of treatment are selected by the employer.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Maine, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Maryland, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Maryland, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Massachusetts, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Massachusetts, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Michigan, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, however for the first 28 days of treatment doctors are selected by the employer.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Michigan, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Minnesota, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but if the employer is part of a managed care plan, then the injured worker should select a doctor from this list, unless the doctor has previously treated the employee.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Minnesota, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Mississippi, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Mississippi, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Missouri, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Missouri, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Montana the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Montana, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Nebraska, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier, however injured workers are entitled to choose their own doctor who has previously treated them or their family.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Nebraska, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Nevada, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but they must choose from a list of doctors who have been certified by the state.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Nebraska, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in New Hampshire, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but if their employer has a managed care plan, then they must choose a doctor from the plan.
For further information about the Work Comp system in New Hampshire, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in New Jersey, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in New Jersey, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in New Mexico, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in New Mexico, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in New York, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but they must choose a doctor from a list of doctors certified by the state.
For further information about the Work Comp system in New York, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in North Carolina, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in North Carolina, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in North Dakota, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but the employer chooses the doctor for the first 30 days..
For further information about the Work Comp system in North Dakota, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in North Dakota, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but they must choose from a list of doctors certified by the state.
For further information about the Work Comp system in North Dakota, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Oklahoma, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Oklahoma, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Oregon, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but if the employer is part of a managed care plan, then the injured worker must choose a doctor from this plan, unless the doctor has previously treated them.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Oregon, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Pennsylvania, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker, but only after the first 90 days. Prior to that it is the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Pennsylvania, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Rhode Island, the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Rhode Island, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in South Carolina, the Doctor is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in South Carolina, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in South Dakota the Doctor is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in South Dakota, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Tennessee, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker, but from a panel of only 3 doctors (which are chosen by the employer).
For further information about the Work Comp system in Tennessee, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Texas, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker, but they must choose them from a list of doctors certified by the state.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Texas, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Utah, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Utah, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Vermont, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker, however the first visit is a doctor selected by the employer.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Vermont, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Virginia, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker, but they must select them from a panel provided by the employer.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Virginia, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Washington, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Washington, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in West Virginia, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker, but from a list provided by the employer or carrier.
For further information about the Work Comp system in West Virginia, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Wisconsin, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Wisconsin, the following links may be helpful:
For Workers' Compensation cases in Wyoming, the Doctor is chosen is chosen by the injured worker.
For further information about the Work Comp system in Wyoming, the following links may be helpful:
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