You Have the Right to Choose Your Own Doctor if Injured on the Job
In the case of work-related injury, little details matter to help your recovery progress as smoothly as possible.
In Ohio, an injured worker has the right to choose any medical provider so long as that provider is certified through the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (“BWC”) and willing to accept payment from the workers’ compensation system. However, it is important to note that three visits to a doctor qualifies as a selection of that physician. Regardless of whether your employer is self-insured, you are free to seek medical attention from anywhere you please. Your employer cannot tell you where to receive treatment for your work-related injury.
The job of your physician is to treat you, as well as file a First Report of Injury, Occupational Disease or Death (FROI-1) form to your BWC’s Managed Care Organization (“MCO”), within 24 hours of your incident. MCOs works alongside the BWC to manage the medical portion of workers’ compensation claims. If at any point you feel like you would like to switch physicians for any reason, you may do so simply by filing a form with the BWC.
One negative aspect of letting injured workers choose their own doctors is that they will often select their own family doctor or general practitioner. At Taubman Law, we encourage you to seek a specialist and get the best medical care available to you.
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This post was written by Cleveland attorney Bruce D. Taubman, who practices workers’ compensation, personal injury and medical malpractice throughout Ohio.
