Texas Law Generally Allows You to Select Your Own Treating Physician
You’ve been hurt at your workplace in Texas, and your employer subscribes to the state workers’ compensation program. You’ve received emergency care, but you’re also going to need some long-term medical attention. It’s likely that your employer has told you that you must submit to an examination by a company-chosen doctor. They may have even scheduled the appointment for you. Can you select your own doctor, or must you submit to treatment by a physician chosen by your employer or the workers’ compensation insurance company?
Does Texas Allow You to Choose Your Own Treating Physician After a Job-Related Injury?
In the aftermath of a workplace injury, the parties involved have competing interests. You want treatment from a medical professional who will give priority to your best interests, who will help you get the care needed to maximize your recovery. Your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance company have a vested interest in minimizing payouts for medical treatment. As a consequence, your employer may mislead you into believing ] you can obtain care only from a company-approved doctor. That’s not true.
In Texas, if your claim is in a healthcare network, you must choose a doctor in that network or you must obtain the approval of the Texas Workers Compensation Commission to use a doctor who is not in the network. If you don’t get approval, your claim will likely not be paid. If your claim is not in a network, you have the right to choose your own treating physician, but the doctor must not appear on the list of care providers who are not approved.
The Importance of Choosing Your Own Doctor
With a workers’ compensation claim, your doctor will have significant input into the type of care you receive. If the doctor is approved by the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission, recommendations for care will typically be approved. When you choose your own doctor, who has your best interests at heart, it maximizes the likelihood that you’ll get all the care you need.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with people who have suffered an injury on the job. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.