The Medical Treatment Benefits in Missouri’s Workers’ Compensation Law
This benefit allows injured workers to receive treatment necessary to cure or relieve the effects of their work injury without incurring bills or costs like co-pays or deductibles. The kicker, if you want the workers’ compensation insurer to pay, the law allows them to direct your care (pick your providers). Commonly, this means you will be evaluated and/or treated by medical professionals that are working to maintain relationships with workers’ compensation insurance companies. This might leave claimants (injured workers who have made workers’ compensation claims) feeling like they are receiving a conservative or cost-effective (think, what feels like endless physical therapy before an MRI) version of care. It might also feel for some like the doctors are releasing them at maximum medical improvement sooner than they are ready, or without given real consideration to their injuries and/or symptoms.
Not only are injured workers entitled to treatment through MMI, but if it is medically ‘probable’ (not merely ‘possible’) that the injury will require any form of treatment at some point in the future, this medical benefit can/should be left open for the remainder of your life. In other words, workers’ compensation can be on the hook to pay for medical treatment necessary to cure or relieve the effects of the work injury for the remainder of your life. Commonly, the medical professionals retained by workers’ compensation insurers to treat injured workers will find that the work injury will not require any future medical treatment (or, if it does, it would not flow from the work injury). If a case is resolved without any real consideration given to future medical, that can be a major potential loss in value.
Commonly, after the workers’ compensation doctors release a claimant at MMI, experienced workers’ compensation attorneys will send for an independent medical evaluation for a second opinion as to whether the claimant has actually reached MMI, and if so, whether there is a probability of future medical care becoming necessary due to the work injury.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SEE THE LAWYERS AT MCDUFFEY & MEDCALF CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CASE:
CALL 573-302-7211 TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULT
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For More information on Workers’ Compensation:
Interactive Missouri Workers’ Compensation Chart
MO Workers’ Compensation Permanent Partial Disability Case Estimate Calculator
