Work Injuries

Work injuries should be reported immediately to an employer. The employer should then help the injured worker find a qualified health care provider to treat the injury. The employee may request a Doctor of Chiropractic when a work injury involves the back, neck, or result in muscle or joint sprains and strains. If you already have a chiropractor, you may want to have his or her name listed with your Employer or the Department of Human Resources at your work place. The “Doctor of Record” is the term used in the States that allow for this registered doctor of choice by the employee. With a Doctor of Record, it is easier to go through the rigorous process of obtaining the care that you would prefer for your injury. A Doctor of Chiropractic who is knowledgeable in the Workers’ Compensation process can be a great resource and aid with this process. Your chiropractor can even work with an attorney, should the injury be contested.

Nationwide, employers pay out a great deal of money to help cover work related injuries. This is one reason why there are tough existing penalties for workers who make fraudulent injury claims. Also, the employer has the right to have the injured person evaluated and in some cases treated by a company doctor. Claims can even get trickier if partial or full disability is involved. Many of these more complex cases will involve the use of attorneys. In these contested cases, the payment for the injury claim may or may not be paid by the work carrier, depending on how the case is settled. Also, most private insurers (companies like Blue Cross, Etna, etc.) will deny any claim for care if the injury is determined to be work related. However, if at a later time the Workers’ Compensation claim is considered invalid and denied, the same private insurer may elect to review the claim a pay a portion of the bill.

Workers’ Compensation can be difficult to understand but a chiropractor who specializes in such cases can help to guide you through the process while helping you recover from your injury. In some cases, your chiropractor may even accept the case on a “lean” basis. This insures the patient that the doctor will wait for payment when a settlement is reached. If no settlement is awarded, your chiropractor may agree to write-off the balance.

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DISCLAIMER: Articles posted on this site are for informational purposes only. Articles are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Users of this site should consult with their doctors before making any decisions regarding their health care. 

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