Workers in Alaska have to accept some risk when they take a job. Some professionals work in obviously dangerous careers. Professional fishermen, for example, are at much higher risk than an office employee for catastrophic injury or a sudden workplace fatality.
However, workers in any profession can end up injured or might develop work-acquired medical conditions. They may have major medical costs and could be unable to work due to their conditions. The potential risk for workers is one reason that Alaska law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees.
Workers’ compensation can help replace lost wages and cover medical costs for an employee. Necessary treatment ranging from surgery to physical therapy may be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. The physician overseeing a worker’s care determines what treatment is necessary. Their role in the claim is, therefore, very important.
Who selects the physician providing medical support to an injured worker?
A worker can choose the doctor they see
Employees in Alaska may already have a standing relationship with a physician they trust. A worker concerned about symptoms might seek evaluation from their primary care physician. If they suddenly develop symptoms with little warning, they might go to an urgent care facility and see whoever is on the schedule that day.
Thankfully, regardless of who diagnoses them and who provides the treatment, workers’ compensation can potentially reimburse that medical professional. The current rules in Alaska allow the employee to select the medical professional who provides their care during their claim.
The one exception to that rule involves a worker in need of emergency treatment. When an incident renders a worker unconscious and in need of emergency support, their employer may arrange for their transportation to a medical facility and may choose the healthcare provider who treats them initially.
The ability to select the physician for a workers’ compensation claim can help an employee feel more comfortable following a recommended course of treatment. They don’t have to worry about the professional having a conflict of interest because of the pre-existing relationship with the business.
Learning the basic rules about workers’ compensation benefits is important. Injured employees may need assistance understanding available benefits and obtaining the support they need. Seeking personalized legal guidance is a great way to get started.
