Chapter 440 First Responder Workers Compensation Benefits Rights

Chapter 440 has a section that deals with the authorization of medical care found in section 440.13.

At various times Chapter 440 has required an employer/carrier to offer First Responders a list of least three physicians from which to select when there has been a request for a one time change of physician. This statute is honored by a number of changes and, currently, the statute does not require that the employer offer a choice of providers.

Once the Employer/Carrier offers an appointment with a physician you have the obligation to accept care and treatment from an authorized physician before you can ask for a change.

Authorizing an appointment doesn’t mean that appointment actually be scheduled. It simply means the appointment be timely authorized. Dorsch v. Hunt, 33rd Florida Law Weekly d1501(July 24, 2009).

If you are a first responder who is having problems with the authorization of physician or change of physicians issues in your First Responder claim contact Florida First Responder Attorney, Nancy Cavey.