When you are injured on the job, your first priority should be attending to your injury. Getting the medical and professional help you need will not only help get you back on your feet, but back to your job faster. When you’re working and have a regular paycheck, you are better able provide for yourself and your family.
While seeking help for an injury seems pretty straight-forward, an injury while on the job requires some extra legwork. If you work in the state of California and get injured on the job, you are required to choose a doctor or healthcare provider from your employer’s medical provider network (MPN).
“A medical provider network (MPN) is an entity or group of health care providers set up by an insurer or self-insured employer and approved by DWC’s administrative director to treat workers injured on the job. Under state regulations, each MPN must include a mix of doctors specializing in work-related injuries and doctors with expertise in general areas of medicine. MPNs are required to meet access to care standards for common occupational injuries and work-related illnesses.” – www.dir.ca.gov
While your options for a treating physician are limited with a MPN, you should still consider the role your physician will play in your workers’ compensation claim. They will be responsible for your treatment of your injury, be the one who authorizes your time off from work, and the one who sets your physical work restrictions for the future. If you are unhappy with your healthcare provider, you do have the option to switch to another healthcare provider or get a second (and third) opinion. If you are still unhappy or disagree with the treating physician, you may request an independent medical review (IMR).
Nearly every employer in California utilizes a MPN. If your employer has an approved and implemented MPN, you are required to receive medical treatment through it. Occasionally, your employer may not properly tell you they have a MPN. In this case, you may be able to choose a doctor outside the network. But, it’s important you check with your employer and claims administrator to see if they have an MPN.
It’s important to tell your employer immediately if you were injured at work. It’s also critical you file your workers’ compensation claim right away to avoid additional medical expenses. Your employer should provide the forms necessary and give you the information regarding their medical provider network. If you have further questions about a MPN or worker’s compensation claims, contact our experienced worker’s compensation lawyers at Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation.
