Arizona, thankfully, is not a “directed care” state. A “directed care” state allows ALL workers’ compensation insurance carriers to choose injured workers’ doctors. This leaves many injured workers in the hands of doctors who do not care about their wellbeing, but instead want to push them back to work as quickly as they can before they have even healed. In Arizona only self-insured employers who meet certain requirements have the right to direct the medical care of their injured workers. For example, Southwest Gas Corporation is self-insured and has the right to direct the medical care of their injured workers. In order for these injured workers to change doctors they must demonstrate that their “health, life, or recovery” is “endangered” or “impaired” by the treatment being furnished by their employer. Often times this is a difficult standard to meet for an injured worker on their own. Thus, it is in their best interest to seek help with this issue!
At the Fendon Law Firm our attorneys have over a century of combined workers’ compensation experience. We have dealt with many self-insured employers who direct medical care! We are always there to help navigate our clients through the system. We also treat our clients like family because we are family! You should contact one of the attorneys at Fendon Law Firm to ensure you are properly represented. Please feel free to contact Fendon Law Firm for any questions about workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, or employment law issues. We now have offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, and Prescott Valley.
