Can I Choose Your Own Doctor For A Work-Related Injury

If you are injured while working in Pennsylvania, your employer has the right to establish a list of designated health care providers with whom you are required to seek medical treatment. This list of physicians is commonly referred to as a “panel list” and the doctors on that list are referred to as “panel physicians”.  If the panel list is properly posted, injured workers must seek treatment for the work injury with one of the designated providers for a period of 90 days from the date of the first visit. Your employer must provide you with written notice of your rights and duties. This written notice must be signed by you- the employee- at the time of hire, whenever changes are made in the list, and at the time of injury.

The panel list must contain at least six providers and three of the six providers must be physicians. Each provider’s name, address, telephone number, and medical specialty must be included on the list. If a particular medical specialty is not on the list and the specialty care is reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the work injury, the employee is allowed to treat with a health care provider of his or her choosing.

     The employer may not direct the employee to any specific provider on the list. The employee may switch from one designated provider to another designated provider on the list. The providers listed must be located in proximity to the injured worker’s geographical area. Listed providers must include providers with medical specialties that are appropriate for the types of work-related medical problems that can be anticipated to occur. If the employer’s “panel list” does not comply with these requirements, the employee has the right to treat a medical provider of his or her choosing.

Contact a Scranton Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you’ve suffered a work injury and have questions about your claim, contact me, Attorney Tom Cummings, at tcummings@dlplaw.com or call (570) 347-1011 for a free consultation.