When you get hurt, it’s normal to want to choose your doctor. The physician treating your injury is crucial in helping you recover, and you may already have your own doctor who you know and trust. But if you get hurt on the job, Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation rules make it difficult to pick your physician. While there is a way to change doctors, you usually have to see someone decided for you by your employer or their insurer.
To learn more about Oklahoma’s rules for medical treatment in a workers’ comp claim, contact Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons for a free consultation.
Can I See My Own Doctor for My Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Claim?
One of the questions our workers’ compensation lawyers frequently receive about claims is whether you can see your own doctor on workers’ comp. The short answer is no. Typically, you must see the doctor your employer selects.
According to the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC), employers with workers’ compensation insurance must provide “reasonable and necessary” medical treatment to injured employees within five days of being given notice of a covered injury. However, the employer has the right to select the treating physician.
How Can I Change Doctors While on Workers’ Compensation?
If you want to change physicians, you might be able. But the process for changing doctors will vary depending on whether your employer contracts with a certified workplace medical plan (CWMP). If your employer is not covered by a CWMP, you may apply with the WCC for a one-time change in physician. The employer must then provide a list of three physicians for you to pick from. However, an employer covered by a CWMP chooses from the physicians in the CWMP network. You must apply through the CWMP’s dispute resolution process to change physicians.
One notable exception concerns emergency medical treatment. When emergency medical care is required, you can see a medical provider of your choice after an injury at work. Your employer must still cover the cost of emergency treatment.
What Should I Do If My Employer Does Not Provide Treatment for My Injury?
Employers must provide injured employees with medical treatment within five days of when the employee reports a covered injury. If the employer does not provide treatment or a list of doctors within that time, the injured employee might be entitled to pick their own doctor.
Is My Employer Legally Allowed to Attend My Workers’ Compensation Doctor’s Appointment?
Due to doctor-patient confidentiality laws in Oklahoma, your employer cannot go to your workers’ comp doctor’s appointments. If your employer insists on attending your doctor’s appointment, notify an employment or workers’ compensation attorney immediately.
Get in Touch with a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma workers’ compensation attorneys with Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can examine your case and explain your rights when choosing a treating physician. If you have questions about an Oklahoma workers’ comp claim and whether workers’ comp can force you to see their doctor, contact us today for a free consultation.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
