Why Workers’ Comp Sends You to Concentra—And How to Push for a Different Doctor
There are various issues that you may face in a workers’ compensation claim, even after you have had your claim for benefits approved. The Arvada work injury attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm can fight for your interests in the face of a difficult insurance company.
One area where the insurance company may give you a hard time is when you want to switch treating physicians. Your need to change doctors can be even more pronounced when you have heeded your employer’s recommendation and designated Concentra as your workers’ compensation doctor. If the insurance company will not let you change physicians, you can fight back.
Call the experienced Arvada workers’ compensation attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm to discuss any issues related to your case. We care about the rights of injured workers, and we will not hesitate to take on big insurance companies.
There Are Financial Incentives for Concentra to Treat You
Concentra is an urgent care clinic that provides occupational health services. Concentra bills itself as a workers’ compensation doctor with a customer focus. That is not what your employer sees when they try to steer you to Concentra for your workers’ compensation medical care. What they see is the ability to save money because of contracts with insurance companies and employers. Their primary obligation may not be to you. Instead, they also cater to the companies and insurance companies that send them business. They also do not want to alienate a source of business because they would make less money. Concentra knows that. Not only do they save money, but they are also counting on your doctor not vigorously going to bat on your behalf out of fear of alienating a paying customer.
Your Doctor May Not Be Acting in Your Interests
Concentra doctors can potentially place your health and your workers’ compensation claim in jeopardy when they act in the interests of your employer and not yours. Your doctor makes key decisions on your behalf at many points during the workers’ compensation process. One key decision that they can make that is categorically against your interests is prematurely recommending that you return to work. Your employer and the insurance company prefer this outcome because it means that they would spend less money and your entitlement to off work wage benefits would stop. The doctors at concentra consistently provide low or 0% impairment ratings for your work injuries, these low ratings directly affect your compensation and the settlement value of your case.
Your doctor also makes recommendations about the medical treatment that you need. Because of their relationship with Concentra, a doctor may sparingly recommend treatment because it would cost the insurance company more money. You may not get the care that you need for your work related injury. Concentra is known for making it hard for you to see the doctor. You may end up being seen by a nurse or nurse practitioner when you really need to see a doctor.
You may not have known any of this when you chose Concentra as your initial medical provider. You just selected them from a list provided to you by your employer, and you may have thought that they were convenient. At some point, you may realize that you are seeing the wrong workers’ compensation doctor and want to switch physicians. It is not always easy to change doctors, and you may need help from a workers’ compensation lawyer. If you feel that you are not getting the treatment that you need for your work related injury, call us today. There are provisions in the law that may allow you to switch to another doctor or even select a doctor of your own choosing.
You Can Change Workers’ Compensation Doctors, But It Is Not Always Easy
Colorado law allows you a one-time change in your workers’ compensation doctors within 90 days after the date of your injury. You must notify your employer, and you would be bound to select another physician from the list of designated providers. If the employer and/or insurance company did not comply with the law after you were injured, the right to select your provider may have passed to you. This would allow you to choose any doctor you want to take over your medical care.
It would be more difficult to switch physicians more than 90 days after your injury. However, its not impossible. The insurance company has to approve or deny your request, and they have 20 days to do so. The insurance company may not want to approve your request, especially when you are seeing a doctor who they believe may be sympathetic to their position. Nevertheless, the insurance company’s denial is not the final word when you are trying to switch doctors.
If the insurance company will not allow you to switch from using Concentra as your workers’ compensation doctor, you can file an application for hearing. Your case would be heard by the Office of Administrative Courts, and an objective administrative law judge would decide whether you can change treating physicians. If you are not being treated fairly by your workers compensation doctor, call us today.
Contact the Arvada Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Today
Get legal help for your workers’ compensation claim from the experienced lawyers at The Frickey Law Firm. Our workers’ compensation attorneys can assist you both with your initial claim and with any issues that come up after you are receiving benefits. Call us today at 303-237-7373 to schedule an appointment with a workers’ compensation attorney.
Adam M. McClure was recently selected for membership in “The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40” organization, making him one of only 40 Colorado lawyers to be awarded this honor. Mr. McClure is an exceptional litigator. He has been a key member of The Frickey Law Firm since 2003. Learn more here.