Legal Question in Workers Comp in Pennsylvania

Any recourse

Hi,

My question has two parts. One question is for me

and the other for a friend who doesn't own a 'puter.

My question for me: I settled my workers comp case in '94. My atty. told me that comp would be liable for any med expenses due to my injury. I was sent to a chiropractor by my pain doc. I called and asked him if he bills comp and he said yes. Well after 2 months he informs me he doesn't want to deal with Utilization board. My atty. assured him I wasn't in that realm. Anyway, my atty. told me not to make an issue of this and just let my medicare and BC/BS pay for it. I got SSD due to the work injury and the chiropractor did bill my medicare and BC/BS and still sent me a bill for over $400.00 which I refuse to pay. I got fired cause I was on comp too long also. What recourse do I have if any?

Second, my friend lost his leg in work acc. in '71 and received comp for about 6 years and they stopped paying saying his comp ran out. He never looked into it due to numerous hospitalizations. He got a letter from Wassau saying his case was turned over to this man who wants to make a settlement. I never heard of comp "running out". Can you make any sense of this?

Thank You


Asked on 4/21/99, 1:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Patrick Henigan Eckell Sparks

Re: Any recourse

If you want to avoid additional bills you should have your chiro. submit his bills to comp. Secondly, PA has what are called special loss compensation rates. I do not have them here in front of me, but basically the law says losing an arm is worth 325 weeks or so, losing a leg 410 weeks etc.(figures are ballparked) If your friend did not contest on the basis of continuing disability he probably has maxed out his comp. The theory behind the law is that after x number of weeks you should be rehabilitated enough to enter the work force.

Patrick Henigan

Dugan Henigan & Associates, P.C.

12 East Oregon Avenue


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Answered on 4/21/99, 10:08 pm


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