Legal Question in Workers Comp in Virginia

Re: choice of doctors

Dear Sir: The law provides that as soon as possible after an injury the insurer is supposed to provide a panel of three doctors to treat the type of injury that you have. An informal rule is that if the insurer does not do this within 30 days of your injury, then the insurer may be stuck with the doctors you choose. However, if you want to avoid litigation, you may want to cooperate with the insurer on this. If you live in Maryland, I think you should demand a panel of doctors more convenient to you if the Northern VA doctors are too far away. Any dispute betweeen you and the insurer regarding this can be resolved by calling the Virginia Workers Comp Commission and asking to speak to the Dispute Resoluton person, the ombudsman. I hope this helps you.

Gerald G. Lutkenhaus

Re: choice of doctors

You have a right to select a doctor from a panel of at least three offered by the insurance carrier. There is no requirement that the doctor

have his practice in the state where your injury occurred. You can certainly request that the insurance carrier include in the panel at least one doctor whose practice is more conveniently located with respect to your residence.