This policy took effect on September 1, 2011 and will be evaluated as it develops.  This should prove a valuable tool for dealing with claims where the injured worker is a Medicare recipient or is likely to be one in the near future.  Hopefully, this new policy will provide some relief in resolving claims that had been at a standstill due to potential future medical needs.

by Robert M. Trivisonno

❏    You have the right to choose the physician you treat with when you are injured.  Your employer can request you be seen by a physician of their choosing, however the law does not require that you treat with that physician. If you have difficulty finding a physician who accepts workers’ compensation patients, we can assist in finding a doctor in your area

❏    You are entitled to pursue additional medical treatment after you have returned to work A release to return to work or finding of Maximum Medical Improvement does not preclude the ability to receive additional medical treatment through your claim if necessary

❏    Prescription medications prescribed by your attending physician for work-related injuries should be covered through your workers’ compensation claim at no cost to you.  There are no co-pays or deductibles for treatment or prescriptions received for a work-related injury, however your physician is required to receive prior authorization for any treatment, diagnostic tests or additional therapy

❏    The first 10 physical therapy visits in a workers’ compensation claim do not require prior authorization by your employer

Compensation/Benefit Issues:

❏    If you are off work for more than one week because of a work-related injury you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits and not use your OJI time.  Your OJI time may be needed for other purposes in the future and it may not be worthwhile to exhaust it when workers’ compensation benefits are available

❏    If your physician releases you to restricted or light duty work only, but your employer is unable to accommodate restrictions, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits until released to full duty by your attending physician or Maximum Medical Improvement has been reached

❏    Regardless of the extent or severity of a work-related injury or length of time missed from work (if any) due to a work-related injury, you are entitled to an Impairment award for any residual symptoms you experience

❏    Workers’ compensation benefits are tax -free

These are just some of the rights you have and benefits you are entitled to when you are injured on the job.  Without some assistance you are left to find these things out for yourself at a time when you are most vulnerable.

Call the workers’ compensation department at any time you may have a question regarding a work-related injury.  There is no cost to contact us about any of these issues you may have.

YES. This is true.  What many injured workers may not realize is that even though you are albe to successfully return to work within a day or within a few days following an injury, you still may receive workers’ compensation benefits in the form of a permanent partial impairment award.  Permanent partial impairment awards compensate the injured workers for ongoing physical or mental impairments associated within on-the-job injury regardless of whether that injured worker had lost any time.

For more details regarding your entitlement to a permanent partial impairment award contact our workers’ compensation attorneys, Ellen McCarthy and Benjamin Wiborg.

If you, a family member, or a friend are facing a dilemma like this, we would encourage you to contact our firm and speak with a member of our firm Workers’ Compensation Department. We are happy to review your situation with you and offer whatever assistance we can to make this process easier to manage.

Four workers were injured in a chemical plant explosion, according to the Dayton Daily News.

The explosion which was estimated to have caused $50 million in damages could also turn into a potential Ohio workers’ compensation case.

Six employees were on site when the explosion occurred, however only four were injured. The four injured could file an Ohio workers’ compensation claim.

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The Ohio workers’ compensation attorneys at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy can help if you were injured on the job.