Legal Question in Workers Comp in New Jersey

Re: Injury at work

In New Jersey the Workers Compensation Carrier has full control of medical care. If you go to an unauthorized doctor, the insurance carrier will not pay that doctor's bill. HOWEVER, i recommend to all my client's in your husband's situation that they go for a second opinion with a qualified orthapaedic doctor to determine whether the non-workers compensation doctor feels that there is some therapy, surgery or other treatment that could help. If the second-opinion doctor recommends some treatment, a Motion for Medical and Temporary Benefits can be filed and a Workers Compensation Judge can order the treatment and the payment of temporary disability benefits (weekly benefits) until your husband returns to work. If you cannot afford the Doctor's consultation fee and the pain is great, go to your local emergency room and see if they have a orthapaedic clinic and a doctor who will determine what the problem is and you can attempt to get that doctor to give you an opinion that differs from the workers compensation doctor. You will need (at a minimum) a doctor who is willing to complete a fill in the blank certification stating what his diagnosis, prognosis and recommendation for treatment is otherwise you cannot file the Motion for Medical and Temporary Benefits. On occasion it is necessary to bring in the doctor to testify in court. It is not an easy process but not an impossible one. Once you get into the Workers Compensation Court with a motion, most judges look at the case and try to get the Insurance Carrier to provide the appropriate treatment. Good Luck.