Injured workers in Minnesota have a right to choose their medical providers. In most cases, you should choose your doctor to evaluate and treat you for your work injury.
You should not allow your employer or the workers’ compensation insurer to direct you to a certain clinic or doctor without consulting an attorney. Your primary care provider is usually a good place to start to get a referral to the appropriate specialist for your type of injury.
Can My Employer Require Me to See Their Appointed Provider?
There are very few cases in which an employer may require an employee to see a designated healthcare provider for treatment. Often, we receive inquiries from injured workers, with employers telling them they must see a certain company doctor, which is usually inaccurate.
Nevertheless, the three special circumstances in which the employer can require you to see their preferred doctor include the following:
- 1) If your employer has a managed care plan in place. A managed care plan allows your employer to select healthcare providers on behalf of employees when they are injured at work.
- 2) If your employer is part of a collective bargaining agreement. In this case, the employer can select from a list of insurance-approved doctors.
- 3) An employer may require an employee to obtain outpatient prescription and non-prescription medications from a pharmacy or network of pharmacies within 15 miles of the employee’s residence.
Unless your case meets one of the three criteria above, you should choose a doctor with whom you feel the most comfortable.
What Happens If I Already Met With My Employer's Provider?
If you have already seen an employer or insurer-selected doctor, you generally have 60 days to change your workers’ compensation doctor. For questions about whether your employer can choose your doctor, or if you need guidance on how to change doctors, contact us for a free consultation.
The claims process can be complex, so having a skilled workers’ compensation attorney with you is vital. We have represented many injured workers in Minnesota and strive to secure the fair compensation to which they are entitled. At Meshbesher & Spence, we will fight for you.
Does Workers’ Compensation Pay for Time Off for Doctors' Appointments?
Time off for medical appointments should be compensated through the workers’ compensation insurance company.
This compensation may be in the form of temporary partial disability benefits or medical benefits. You should communicate with your employer about the reason for your absence so there is no miscommunication about the nature of the lost time.
Important Exceptions
The following cannot be used to pay workers’ compensation benefits in Minnesota (assuming your claim for wage loss is not disputed):
- Sick leave
- Vacation leave
- Paid time off (PTO)
However, accrual of these benefits can be affected by being off work due to a work injury, depending on the employer’s policy.
