When you are injured at your workplace you may be concerned that in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits you need to use your employer’s designated physician, but that is only partially true.
Under Connecticut law, you are able to choose your own attending physician, but only AFTER you visit your employer’s designated office or facility. You must be seen by the employer’s designated office or facility for your initial medical treatment. This is a critical step in filing your workers’ compensation claim. If you refuse to be seen for initial medical treatment at your employer’s designated medical facility you may forfeit your rights to your workers’ compensation claim.
The good news is that once you have had your initial medical treatment you can then choose your attending physician to perform medical procedures beyond the initial treatment.
If your employer participates in approved medical care plan the physician that you choose must be within a list of physicians in that plan. If you choose a physician outside of the plan a workers’ compensation commissioner may suspend all rights to benefits being paid out.
If your employer does not participate in an approved medical care plan you may choose any medical professional who is licensed in Connecticut. This medical professional includes;
- Chiropractic
- Medicine
- Naturopathy
- Osteopathy
- Podiatry
It does not matter whether or not your employer participates in an approved medical plan or not, it remains your choice as to who you see as part of your medical treatment.
If you’ve been injured on the job, a member of our experienced and board certified Connecituct workers’ compensation team can help you with your claim. Contact us immediately.
