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I was injured recently at work and go to my doc and the first thing they say to me (before I even mention the term) is "we don't do worker's comp" rather vehemently and kept repeating it over and over. I said fine and just paid them out of pocket because I needed treatment immediately. Then my workplace called them after I filled out a report and they called me and told me that they had called my doctor's office and were rudely refused to be spoken with and hung-up on.
I've been to many other doctors with big signs before that say "No worker's comp" on the front door.
I don't know anything about worker's comp. Could someone please explain to me exactly what it is and why most doctors seem to flip out about it?
My guess is the legality of the whole issue.
It's along the lines with drug-seekers and ER frequent-flyers. A lot of people will make a workman's comp claim in order to get money/vacation, not because they actually got injured. Doctors don't like facilitating someone else's laziness/drug habit/etc., so they refuse to see any of those patients. Obviously a lot of workman's comp is legit, but it attracts the shadier types as well.
Any time there is anything with a legal dispute involved that means for the physicians that they will not see reimbursement for services rendered until a settlement has been reached. This could be years and by that time the statue of limitations on their ability to collect could be up. That's what my lawyer says anyway and several physicians I've worked for. Legal issues involved = no insurance company will pay until blame is fully established and then you are able to charge the liable party. Law2Doc could probably explain further but that's what I've been told.
It's along the lines with drug-seekers and ER frequent-flyers. A lot of people will make a workman's comp claim in order to get money/vacation, not because they actually got injured. Doctors don't like facilitating someone else's laziness/drug habit/etc., so they refuse to see any of those patients. Obviously a lot of workman's comp is legit, but it attracts the shadier types as well.
...I don't know anything about worker's comp. Could someone please explain to me exactly what it is and why most doctors seem to flip out about it?
Because we don't like doing paperwork for patients we don't know and have no other relationship with, we don't like being asked to lie on legal documents, and most workers comp seems to be for nebulous back pain that you just know is a ruse to scam the system.
It's like doing sports physicals and the accompanying paperwork. Or well child checks. Very low-skilled work, pays poorly, and requires mucho paperwork.
It's not cynicism, it's experience. When you get a doctor involved with the work comp system you've put them into a position where they are acting as your witness in a legal proceeding. The lying that Panda talks about is a big deal. Back pain is the biggie. I don't know how they really got hurt or if they had a pre-existing injury and I really don't know if they are actually having pain now or just malingering. But, I've got to fill out their forms and if there's a problem I have to answer letters and possibly even go to depositions or court for all this.So basically a lot of work for not enough money. Fair enough.
I don't get your comment about lying. I cut off part of my finger last week and my family doctor whom I've seen for 20 years and know extremely well refused to see me unless I paid in cash (no worker's comp). And even then he was ticked off. You seem a bit cynical.