Workers’ compensation reimburses employees for medical treatment and lost wages for work-related injuries and disease.
If you suffer from a work related injury, your employer or its insurance company must pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the injury, even if you have not lost time from work.
What type of medical services am I entitled to through workers’ comp?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, if they qualify for workers’ comp, injured employees are entitled to the payment of related reasonable surgical and medical services rendered by a physician or other health care provider. Medicine, supplies, hospital treatment and services, orthopedic appliances and prostheses are also covered for as long as they are needed.
If I’m able to return to work, can I still receive medical benefits?
Many work injuries, though serious, do resolve, and the person is able to return to their job. But what if a person can return to work but still has ongoing issues related to their injury? For example, if a software engineer falls at work and needs shoulder surgery as a result, they will likely be able to return to work while continuing medical treatment and physical therapy. In that case, if a doctor links the treatment to the original work injury, the employer or employer’s insurer will continue to pay for the medical treatment.
In any workers’ compensation claim, it is vital to make sure the claim is recognized and proper paperwork has been submitted to the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation. An experienced workers’ comp attorney can ensure that everything is in order.
If an employer or insurer has evidence that an employee has returned to work at wages equal to or more than their prior earnings level, they can stop paying wage loss benefits after providing timely notice. However, the worker may be entitled to continue to receive medical benefits and treatment even after they return to work.
As long as a doctor deems treatment necessary and links the treatment to the original work injury, you can receive medical benefits.
What should I do if I need help with my workers’ compensation claim?
It can be a difficult decision to return to work after an injury. You may be eager to get back to your normal routine, but you also want to make sure that you are taking the necessary time to heal.
You need an experienced attorney, like those at Aversa Linn, to help you determine if you are entitled to workers’ comp, and to make sure you follow all the guidelines to continue receiving the benefits you need.
If you have been injured at work or become ill because of work, contact Aversa & Linn. We will fight for you to hold all responsible parties accountable.
