Hurt on the job? Medical bills piling up?
| July 24th, 2020
Q: I got hurt at work and filed for workers’ compensation, so why am I getting billed for the medical treatment I received?
A: When you are injured on the job, the medical bills for the treatment you receive are supposed to be paid by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (MCO) or your self-insured employer. All too often the injured worker receives the bill for their treatments and there can be any number of reasons for this, such as:
- The claim was contested by your employer, in which case no treatment will be paid for until and unless your claim is formally allowed.
Solution: If your claim is being contested by your employer or the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, you will have a hearing to determine if your claim should be allowed. In the event your claim is allowed, the medical bills for treatment of the allowed conditions will be paid.
- The treatment was provided without the physician or provider receiving prior authorization for the treatment.
Solution: Even in an allowed claim prior authorization for treatment must be obtained by your attending physician. The lone exceptions are for ten physical therapy visits and some specialist consultations.
- Or, perhaps most frustrating of all the treatment was authorized, but not billed properly by the healthcare provider. If bills for authorized treatment are not submitted with the appropriate detail and format, the bill will not be paid by the BWC.
Solution: This could be the most difficult to resolve because even in an allowed claim where treatment was previously authorized. If the medical provider does not bill for the treatment correctly, the injured worker can suffer the consequences.
Meet our Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Benjamin P. Wiborg, trial attorney, has been with Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy since 2008. He attended The University of Findlay and then earned his law degree from Cleveland State University. Benjamin focuses his law practice on helping those who have been denied workers’ compensation benefits for on-the-job injuries.
We can assist you with filing a claim and fight to make sure your employee rights are protected. Call us today at (216) 230 -6352 or complete a free initial consultation form online.