Category: Medical Providers (Page 17 of 18)

Injured workers are required to designate an attending provider or attending physician (AP) on their L&I claim or workers’ compensation claim. In very simple terms the AP is the medical provider that manages treatment, reports progress to L&I, and assesses the injured workers’ medical ability to return to work in regular intervals as the claim progresses. It is the injured worker who gets to choose their AP, but the AP must be within L&I’s medical provider network (MPN) and the chosen provider must be willing to see the injured worker.

I’m often asked by injured workers what kind of AP they should select. People are often concerned with finding a provider that will be “good” for their case and often believe that in order for the provider to be “good” they must be a MD. While the opinions of medical doctors can sometimes carry greater weight than other types of providers, I don’t always agree that an MD is the best AP. I usually tell injured workers to select an AP they are comfortable with. It is important for injured workers to have good communication with their providers, to feel comfortable with the medical advice they are given and with asking questions. It is also important for injured workers to have attentive AP’s that pay attention to the facts and details of the claim, provide appropriate and well-reasoned treatment recommendations and referrals, and who are willing to respond to inquiries from the Department.

There are many kinds of medical providers that can be APs including, but not limited to, medical doctors (MD), osteopathic doctors (DO), chiropractors (DC/DCM), naturopaths (ND), physicians’ assistants (PA-C), and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP). Many injured workers are surprised to learn that their “family doctor” or “primary care physician” may be within the medical provider network and able to take on the role of AP. Therefore, it is best to take your time and do your research when selecting an attending physician. Injured workers can change the AP designation by filling out a Transfer of Care card, and can search for MPN providers through the Department’s Find a Doc website.

Last Friday, my work week ended on a familiar note. Trying to reassure injured workers who can’t find attending physicians (APs). In my opinion, we have a real problem in Washington State finding willing APs. Particularly for older L&I claims or for injured workers with multiple claims.

The law allows injured workers to designate an AP of their choosing. This is important since an injured worker needs to be comfortable enough with their AP to place full trust in that provider and their medical advice. Having multiple providers decline the AP role is upsetting for injured workers. When the Department of Labor and Industries starts sending letters directing them to designate an AP, the situation only gets worse.

Attorneys should not meddle in the patient physician relationship, so I don’t have a list of doctors in my hip pocket ready and willing to do my bidding. However, when a workers’ compensation claim is in jeopardy, I think it is my responsibility to write letters, forward medical records, and even meet with doctors to help my clients obtain APs. If the matter ends up in litigation, certainly the question will be asked about whether I had any hand in my client establishing care with a particular physician. After conversations like the ones I had today, there are simply no alternative but to do what is best for my client.