A single incident at work may result in an injury that plagues an employee and even renders them unable to work either temporarily or potentially forever. The temporary or permanent inability to work may also result when an employee develops a medical condition related to their employment.
If you have experienced a work-related injury or illness, you will want to learn how to seek medical care as part of the benefits that may be available to you through workers’ compensation.
Approval for medical care
According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, an employee in need of emergency medical care after an accident on the job need not seek approval for treatment prior to receiving care. No approval from the employer or the insurance carrier is required for additional medical care up to a cost of $750. Treatment that may exceed $750 in costs that may be provided by a medical facility or provider of the employee’s choosing may require approval from the employer or the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
Choice of medical provider
You may choose which doctor or other medical professional to see after a work injury. However, your employer may request that you undergo an evaluation by the provider of their choice as well. If the employer’s provider disagrees with your provider, you may request a review by an independent medical provider.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give residents in Louisiana an overview of the medical assistance or benefits they may qualify for under workers’ compensation should they be injured on the job or develop a work-related illness.
