Training Resources
Training Resources
Patients often select doctors who are not able to get injury claims accepted. They suffer through denial after denial. Some doctors are not willing to do what it takes to get claims accepted. Too often, patients select orthopedic surgeons and other specialists as their initial physician, but these doctors are not trained to get claims accepted. This example applies to most primary care doctors, urgent care doctors, VA doctors, ER doctors, and Chiropractors as well. Eventually, patients feel like giving up and they want to change treating doctors.
Patients have 3 options when they want to see a new doctor to get their claim approved.
1. Get a referral from their treating doctor to the new doctor.
2. Write a letter to the claims examiner requesting a change of treating doctor.
3. The doctor can write a letter to the claims examiner requesting to be removed from the patient’s injury claim.
Getting a referral from the treating doctor is limited and not preferred, but it is an option which is better than nothing.
When patients request a change of treating doctor, the request is often denied, especially when the original doctor is a specialist and the doctor they want to change to is a general practitioner. It’s senseless and makes little sense, but it is a reality.
When doctors request to be removed from the claim, the rule states that request will be granted. Then, theoretically the patient should be free to choose another doctor, but this is not always allowed.
The bottom line is the best route for injured workers is to find a trained OWCP doctor in the beginning and select this as their initial treating physician.
If the attending physician asks to be relieved of responsibility in a case, the request will be granted. The physician should provide reasons for the request, report the patient’s condition at the time, and state further medical recommendations.
https://www.dol.gov/owcp/contacts/ny/FileAClaim.htm
Initial choice of physicians. You have the right to choose your physician. If that physician refers you to a specialist, OWCP will honor that referral, as long as it is for the work-related condition. If you wish to change physicians, you must request approval from OWCP. Send a letter to OWCP stating your reasons for wanting this change, along with the name, address, and specialty of the physician to whom you wish to change. OWCP will not pay bills from physicians whom we have not approved, other than your first choice of physicians.