Workers' Compensation
Injured workers are entitled to care that is medically necessary based on the nature of the injury or process of recovery. Company Care follows all Workers' Compensation guidelines for disability management, treatment planning, and return-to-work for injured employees. Treatment outside the State guidelines requires pre-authorization.
What is Worker's Compensation ?
Workers' compensation laws provide money and medical benefits to an employee who has an injury as a result of an accident, injury or occupational disease on-the-job. Workers' compensation is designed to protect workers and their dependents against the hardships from injury or death arising out of the work environment. It is intended to benefit the employee and employer alike. The employee receives money (usually on a weekly or biweekly basis) and medical benefits in exchange for forfeiting the common law right to sue the employer. The employer benefits by receiving immunity from court actions against them by the employee in exchange for accepting liability that is limited and determined. The question of negligence or fault is usually not at issue.
Medical Examinations
Independent medical examinations are performed to assist the parties in the evaluation of physical problems and a diagnosis and prognosis of what the injured worker may or may not be able to do and what they've been able to do in the past.
Dr. John Kirkwood is a Medical Review Officer and approved doctor by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission.
Returning to Work
Your doctor has the responsibility of determining whether or not you, as the injured worker, should remain off work. It is not up to the employer, injured worker, attorney or adjustor. If you disagree with a doctor's opinion concerning your return to work, you may seek a second opinion. Our physicians will discuss return-to-work expectations with injured employees, employers, and insurance carriers and explore options for restricted and modified work assignments when necessary.
Notice Of Injured Employee Rights and Responsibilities
TX Workers Compensation System
As an injured employee in Texas, you have the right to free assistance from the Office of Injured Employee Counsel. This assistance is offered at local offices across the state. These local offices also provide other workers' compensation system services from the Texas Department of Insurance. This is the state agency that administers the system through the Division of Workers' Compensation.
You can contact the Office of Injured Employee Counsel by calling the toll free telephone number 1-866-EZE-OIEC (1-866-393-6432). Also, more information is available on their web site: www.oiec.state.tx.us.
You can contact the Division of Workers' Compensation by calling the toll free telephone number 1-800-252-7031. More information about the Division of Workers' Compensation is available at: www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/indexwc.html.
