Under Arizona workers’ compensation, most injured workers can choose their doctors, except when a self‑insured employer is authorized to direct care.
Employers that carry workers’ compensation insurance have a one-time right to have you undergo a medical exam by a doctor of the employer’s choice. If you return to that physician a second time, then that physician becomes your attending physician.
Separately, your employer or its insurer may require you to undergo an independent medical examination from time to time.
If your employer is self-insured and authorized to direct medical care, then the employer can select a workers’ compensation doctor of its choosing for the duration of your treatment. In this situation, a change of doctors would only be approved on a limited basis.
You can find out whether your employer directs care here.
If your employer is self-insured but does not direct care, or is insured through a private company, then you can choose your own doctor after the first visit. If you voluntarily see the employer-selected physician more than once, then you cannot change doctors without the approval of your current physician, the employer’s workers’ compensation carrier, or the ICA.
If you need help changing your workers’ comp doctor, the Matt Fendon Law Group legal team can help. To speak with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us at (800) 229-3880. We have an extensive list of great providers that are injured worker friendly and make the best medical care for you a priority.
Seek Medical Treatment As Soon as Possible After a Work Injury
After you suffer a workplace injury, it is critical that you seek treatment as soon as possible. If you see a doctor immediately after a workplace accident, it will establish a clear link between the incident and your injuries.
Your choice of the doctor who treats you is important to your workers’ compensation claim. Your treating doctor will determine how long it will take you to recover from your work-related injury, whether your injury is permanent, and the type of treatment you need to reach full physical recovery or maximum medical recovery.
You do not need to wait for your employer to exercise its right to have you see a doctor it chooses. If you need to, get medical attention at an emergency room after a workplace accident that resulted in an injury or illness.
Even if you believe that your injuries are not serious, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible after a workplace accident. Some soft tissue injuries, like concussions and whiplash, may not show symptoms right away. A doctor will examine you and will know what types of injuries to look for and how to identify them.
Waiting to see a doctor can hurt your workers’ compensation claim. If you delay, then the workers’ comp insurance company may argue that you were not hurt.
How Can I Change Doctors?
Once you have an attending physician, you have three ways to change doctors:
- The attending physician can refer you to another doctor. If you want to change doctors and your current doctor will not authorize the change, then call your carrier for its approval.
- The employer’s workers’ compensation insurer can approve a change of doctors.
- If the carrier will not agree to the change, you may apply in writing to the ICA for approval.
Before making your request, be sure that the doctor you wish to change to will accept you as a new patient.
Making a Doctor Change Request With the ICA
Your request to change doctors should include the following information:
- Your claim information
- Your signature
- The names and complete addresses of both doctors
- The reason for the request
Once you make your request, the ICA will review it. The ICA will contact the attending physician, the insurance carrier, or both for their opinion on the change, and then approve or disapprove the change. To avoid possible payment problems, you should not begin treatment with a new doctor before receiving approval.
If you or the insurance carrier disagrees with the ICA decision, then a request for a hearing must be filed.
When the Employer Lists the Exclusive Doctors You Can Use
A few Arizona employers have filed a plan with the ICA listing the doctors their employees can use. If you work for one of these employers, you must use the employer’s contracted physicians for your work injury.
The ICA may approve a change when there is reasonable ground to believe the employer‑provided care endangers or impairs your health, life, or recovery. If you receive treatment outside the plan without ICA approval, then your bills may not be covered.
Do You Need Help Changing Doctors For Your Workers’ Comp Claim?
As an injured worker, the choice of which doctor becomes your treating physician is one of the most important decisions you can make in your workers’ compensation claim. Allowing your employer, or the employer’s insurance company, to choose your doctor for you may not always be in your best interests.
If you need assistance changing doctors, or if your treating physician or the insurance company is resisting your request to change doctors, then Matt Fendon Law Group can help, starting with a free consultation.
Our workers’ compensation attorneys exclusively handle workers’ compensation claims and appeals under Arizona law. If you are applying for workers’ compensation benefits after being injured on the job, seeking to change doctors, or appealing a denial, we are ready to fight for you.
With five offices across the state, we are positioned to work with you no matter where you are in Arizona or at what stage of the workers’ compensation process you are in.
Contact our law firm at 800-229-3880 or fill out our online contact form. We offer free consultations for workers’ compensation cases.
