What are the Changes to the "Two Doctor Rule" Under the Workers’ Compensation Act in Illinois?
FAQ,Work Injury,Workers' Compensation - September 10, 2015 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
Changes to the “Two Doctor Rule” under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act
Under the “Two Doctor Rule,” if an employer sets up a “Preferred Provider Program,” then the injured worker only has one choice of doctor and the chain of referrals that we spoke about yesterday will stem from this initial doctor. A “Preferred Provider Program” is an organization of health care providers such as hospitals, clinics, medical doctors, etc. who are contracted with the insurer or company to provide health care to the insurer’s or employer’s employees. So, now the second choice for the injured worker is the employer’s network of doctors.
The “Preferred Provider Program” can create a potentially hazardous result for the injured worker. Hopefully this is not the case, but let’s entertain the idea. Say you are an employer and you are choosing a healthcare network to provide care for your employees. As the employer you understand it is important to keep costs within reason. If an employee gets injured while at work, more likely than not your insurance rates will go up. So naturally, when choosing a healthcare network to handle your workers’ injuries you will be more apt to choose a network who will make decisions favorable to you. Simultaneously, the network of healthcare providers wants to make sure you are happy with their service and keep your business, so they in turn continue to make employer favorable decisions. This is not always the case, but the potential for this to happen is there.
So What Should I Do if My Employer has Established a Preferred Provider Program?
The best advice we can give you is to consult with an attorney. If you are in this situation try tochoose your first doctor carefully. The first doctor needs to be someone who will take care of you. They should have a large network of trusted doctors, specialists, and other healthcare providers that will be able to help you in treating your injury. If your employer is pushing you to see their network and you feel like it is not in your best interest, consult with an attorney.
Chicago Workers Compensation Attorneys
If you have more questiosn regarding the Workers’ Compensation Act in Illinois, Chicago workers compensation lawyers at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates invite you for a free telephone or in person consultation to discuss your injury and any questions you may have. You can also email us or even speak with us right now on LiveChat. Even if you do not wish to retain an attorney, we can set you on the right path for free.
Our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers have many years of experience in handling workers’ compensation cases and we have an outstanding track record in helping our clients through creating a strong trust relationship, as you can see in our Success Record. Please call one of our offices today:
- Chicago office: (312) 372-8822
- Joliet office: (815) 723-8822
- Toll free: (800)-985-1819
