Businesses with direct-hire employees in New Jersey typically need to comply with workers’ compensation rules. They need to carry coverage in case an employee gets hurt on the job or develops an illness caused by their work.
Workers’ compensation can pay for an employee’s treatment and can replace their wages when they become unable to continue working. The employer derives benefits as well, as workers’ compensation protects them from the possibility of an employee lawsuit because of an injury.
Many workers’ compensation claims are straightforward. The employee reports the injury, seeks medical care and obtains the benefits they need. Some cases become more complicated. For example, the worker may question the doctor’s diagnosis or their treatment plan. Can injured workers in New Jersey secure second opinions as part of a workers’ compensation claim?
Second opinions can prove invaluable
Every physician has their own personal biases and professional history that can affect how they practice medicine. The physician overseeing a worker’s compensation claim has a direct influence on the employee’s benefits and recovery.
If the physician doesn’t seem to understand the worker’s symptoms or if the employee disagrees with their treatment plan, they may require outside input. Generally speaking, every patient has a right to request a second opinion. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they can do so without incurring some expenses.
Workers’ compensation medical benefits typically do not cover second opinions in New Jersey. Workers may need to pay out of pocket to see a different physician. In some cases, those costs can be an investment rather than a frustrating expense.
If another doctor arrives at a significantly different diagnostic conclusion or proposes a more reasonable treatment plan, that can be helpful for the injured worker. They can go back to the physician overseeing their care and provide them with documentation from the other doctor they saw.
That second opinion could lead to the physician ordering additional testing or agreeing to modify a proposed treatment plan. Given that the alternative might be to accept an inaccurate diagnosis or risk the loss of benefits by failing to follow through with medical instructions, paying for a second opinion could be a good investment for an employee with a significant work-related health challenge.
Learning more about workers’ compensation can be beneficial for those dealing with job-related medical challenges. Injured employees often need help learning about their rights and fighting for them while navigating the workers’ compensation system.