Need a Better Doctor for Your Workers’ Comp Case? | West Palm Beach, FL Workers’ Comp Lawyer Advice

Transcript

Summary

The video addresses a common complaint among workers’ compensation clients: authorised treating doctors are often handpicked by insurance companies to minimise costs and treatment efforts. To resolve this, injured workers are entitled under the law to a one-time change of doctor during their case. Because this opportunity is limited, clients must carefully decide whether to switch their orthopedist, neurologist, or pain management physician. The firm offers assistance in identifying which doctors will be most helpful to the client and their specific case.

FAQs

Q: Why do clients commonly complain about authorised treating doctors?

A: Clients often complain because these doctors are “handpicked by the insurance company, usually because they know that these doctors won’t do a lot and won’t cost the insurance company a lot of money”.

Q: What can a client do to get a better doctor?

A: You need to “ask for a one-time change”.

Q: How many times does the law allow you to switch doctors?

A: “Under the law, you can switch at least one doctor for your whole case,” meaning “you’re always entitled to at least one change of doctor”.

Q: Why must you be careful when choosing to switch doctors?

A: You must be careful because you can switch “at least one doctor for your whole case,” whether that is your “orthopedist,” “neurologist,” or “pain management doctor”.

Q: How can the law firm assist with this process?

A: The firm can help “figure out which is the best doctor to switch” because they are “very familiar with the doctors that can be helpful towards you and your case”.

Q: Why are authorized treating doctors often a source of frustration for injured workers?

A: Authorized treating doctors are selected by the insurance company, and injured workers may become frustrated when they feel the doctor is not providing enough treatment or is focused on limiting costs for the insurance company.

Q: Is a one-time doctor change available for every type of specialist involved in a case?

A: Yes. The one-time change applies to a single doctor for the entire case, whether that doctor is an orthopedist, neurologist, pain management specialist, or another authorized treating physician.

Q: Does requesting a doctor change happen automatically?

A: No. The client must actively request the one-time doctor change rather than waiting for the insurance company to offer it.

Q: Since the doctor change can only be used once, how should a client approach the decision?

A: A client should carefully consider which doctor to switch because the one-time change can only be used for one doctor during the entire case.

Q: How does the firm help clients choose which doctor to switch?

A: The firm draws on its familiarity with doctors in the area to help clients determine which doctor may be the best choice to switch for their particular situation.

Transcription of the Video

“Every day I hear my clients or potential new clients complain about the authorized treating doctor that the insurance company has set them up with and that’s a very common complaint because these doctors are handpicked by the insurance company usually because they know that these doctors won’t do a lot and won’t cost the insurance company a lot of money so what can I do to help get a better doctor well first you need to ask for a one-time change under the law you can switch at least one doctor for your whole case so you got to be careful on which doctor you want to switch maybe you want to switch your orthopedist maybe you want to switch the neurologist maybe you want to switch the pain management doctor in either case we can figure out which is the best doctor to switch but you can always you’re always entitled to at least one change of doctor and we are very familiar with the doctors that can be helpful towards you and your case”.