Iowa Workers' Compensation - Choosing the doctor.
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335
Many workers ask if after an injury they are permitted to pick a doctor of their choosing. And the answer is no. In Iowa the employer pays for medical care to treat an injured worker and the employer gets to choose who they send you to. That's good from the standpoint of there being no deductible or co-insurance payment by the worker but not so good from the standpoint of who chooses the doctor.
Doctors are come in all flavors. Some are very conservative. Some know who butters their bread. And they know if they resolve judgment in the patients favor the insurance companies will stop referring. So you guessed it, their opinions stay ultra conservative.
See a lawyer; protect your rights against those who would take them away.
Who chooses the Medical Care?
The employer provides medical care reasonably suited to treat the employee's injury, and has the right to choose the medical care. If the employee is dissatisfied with the care offered, the employee should discuss the problem with the employer or insurance carrier. In certain situations the employee may wish to request alternate care. If the employer, or insurance carrier, does not allow alternate care, the employee (through appropriate proceedings) may apply to the workers' compensation commissioner for alternate medical care. (85.27)
If the employer-retained physician gives a rating of permanent impairment, which the employee feels is too low, the employee does have a right to another examination by a doctor of the employee's choice at the employer's expense. (85.39)
Obvious for most of this you need a lawyer.
For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Worksite Injuries and Workers Compensation.