(In effect as of January 1, 2004*)
TABLE 5a.  MEDICAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION STATUTES
Full Medical Benefits**
Alabama Indiana Nebraska South Carolina
Alaska Iowa Nevada South Dakota
Arizona Kansas New Hampshire Tennessee
Colorado Kentucky New Jersey Texas
Connecticut Louisiana New Mexico Utah
Delaware Maine New York Vermont
District of Maryland North Carolina Virginia
  Columbia Massachusetts North Dakota Virgin Islands
Georgia Michigan Oklahoma Washington
Idaho Minnesota Oregon West Virginia
Illinois Mississippi Pennsylvania Wisconsin
Missouri Puerto Rico Wyoming
Rhode Island United States***:
 FECA
  LHWCA
Special Provisions
Arkansas.............. Employer liability ceases six months after injury where no time is lost from work, or six months after a claimant returns to 
work, or a maximum of $10,000 has been paid, unless the employer waives rights or the Commission extends time and 
dollar limits.
California………… Chiropractic physical therapy and occupational therapy visits limited to 24 per specialty.  Insurer may authorize additional
visits.
                                                                                                                     
*See Introduction page.
**No time or monetary limitations.
***Federal Employees' Compensation Act;
   Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
TABLE 5a.  MEDICAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION STATUTES (cont.)
Special Provisions (cont.)
Florida............….. After maximum medical improvement is reached, a $10 patient co-payment is required for all medical services.  If injured 
worker fails to show for a scheduled independent medical examination, injured worker is liable for 50% of the no show
fee charged by provider.  If an injured worker requests an independent medical examination, he/she must pay for the
examination unless the employee prevails in the medical dispute.
Hawaii................ The frequency and extent of treatment cannot exceed the nature of injury and the process required for recovery. 
 Authorization is not required for the initial 15 treatments of the injury during the first 60 calendar days.
Ohio.................. After the employee has received temporary total disability compensation for 90 days, the employee must be examined by
the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Medical Section to determine eligibility for continuation of compensation and the 
appropriateness of medical treatment being provided.
Montana............... A claimant copayment of $25 for each subsequent visit to a hospital emergency department for treatment is required,
unless the visit is for treatment requested by an insurer.
Tennessee............. Medical benefits include psychological treatment if rendered by a psychologist and upon the referral by a physician.  
Medical treatment required for a back injury shall include a chiropractor.
 TABLE 5b.  METHODS OF PHYSICIAN SELECTION PROVIDED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION STATUTES
                                             Employer State Agency
             Employee Choice Selection of Selects
                 of Physician               Physician Employer Initial Selection Physician
Initial Selection Selection   May be   After
Choice from list from list changed by specified
prepared maintained   State  periods
by State by employer  Agency stated in
 Agency   law,
employee
has free
 choice
                     
Alaska New York Florida 5/ Alabama Arkansas 2/ California 3/ Puerto Rico
Arizona 1/ Georgia Florida 6/ Colorado Maine
Connecticut 4/ Tennessee Indiana Idaho Michigan
Delaware Virginia 15/ Iowa New Mexico
District of Kansas Pennsylvania
  Columbia Missouri Utah 14/
Hawaii New Jersey Vermont
Illinois North Carolina
Kentucky Oklahoma 12/
Louisiana South Carolina
Maryland 7/
Massachusetts
Minnesota 8/
Mississippi
Montana 9/
Nebraska
Nevada 10/
New Hampshire
North Dakota 11/
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
  TABLE 5b.  METHODS OF PHYSICIAN SELECTION PROVIDED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION STATUTES (cont.)
                                             Employer State Agency
             Employee Choice Selection of Selects
                 of Physician               Physician Employer Initial Selection Physician
Initial Selection Selection   May be   After
Choice from list from list changed by specified
prepared maintained   State  periods
by State by employer  Agency stated in
 Agency   law,
employee
has free
 choice
                     
Texas 13/
Virgin Islands
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming 16/
United States*:
  FECA
  LHWCA
                     
1/ Arizona - If employer is self-insured, employer may choose physician, except in emergencies.
2/ Arkansas- Employee may petition for a one-time change-of-physician.
3/ California - While employer has initial selection of physician, employee can change to physician of own
choosing after 30 days, and any worker who pre-designates a personal physician prior to injury
can go to that physician after injury.  However, only employees who have employer provided 
 health coverage can predesignate.  Note that rules for Health Care Organizations, the
 managed care component of California's workers' compensation system, gives employers
 longer periods of control of medical care.
4/ Connecticut - An employee has initial choice of physician only if employer does not have a managed care plan
established.
TABLE 5b.  METHODS OF PHYSICIAN SELECTION PROVIDED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION STATUTES (cont.)
5/ Florida - Employee selects from list supplied by carrier or managed care organization when medical care
is provided through an authorized managed care arrangement.
6/ Florida - If medical care is provided outside an authorized managed care arrangement.
7/ Maryland - Employer selection of physician is also allowed, but is not binding on employee.
8/ Minnesota - However, if there is a managed care plan in effect, employee is obligated to see a
physician in the plan network, unless a relationship has developed with a physician outside 
plan.  Prior relationship is presumed if employee has seen the physician twice within a two-year period.
9/ Montana - If employee is subject to a certified managed care plan, the MCO chooses the physician.
10/ Nevada - Nevada's selection of physicians and chiropractors are governed by NRS 616C.090; except in emergency, if the employer's
workers' compensation insurer has entered into a managed care contract or health care service provider 
contract, the injured employee must choose the treating physician or chiropractor or health care service
provider according to the terms of the contract.  If the insurer has not entered into such a contract, the
injured employee may choose his treating physicians and chiropractors that DIR has established.  If the
injured employee is dissatisfied with his initial treating doctor, he may choose an alternative physician 
or chiropractor within 90 days after his injury.
11/ North Dakota - Employers enrolled in North Dakota Workers’ Compensation’s Risk Management Program
may select a designated medical provider.
12/ Oklahoma - Employer makes initial choice of physician within first three days of actual knowledge
of employee injury or per a Cerified Workplace Medical Plan (CWMP) (Managed Care).  
If emergency medical care is required or if the employer fails or neglects to provide medical care, 
then employee can choose treating physician.
13/ Texas - Employee must make a selection from a list of physicians approved by the Workers' 
           Compensation Commission.
14/ Utah - Employee may make one choice of physician after initially seeing the employer’s physician.
15/ Virginia - Employer’s list of physicians may also include chiropractors for treatment of 
  employee’s injuries.
16/ Wyoming - Employee makes choice.
*  Federal Employees Compensation Act; Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.