Obtaining medical care for a Work Injury in New York State is can be complex. Your physicians are required to jump through hoops, file forms and your benefits are dependent upon the proper reporting of your injury and your degree of disability.  Moving out of state can make things even more complicated.

If you decide to move out of state, your rights remain the same but you still must obtain medical evidence to support your claim. Even though doctors in another state are paid based upon their state’s customary billing allowance, you will have difficulty finding a physician who will (1) accept New York State Workers’ Compensation insurance or (2) is willing to comply with the requirements set forth by the statute.

Even though an out of state physician is not bound by the New York State’s rules for providing medical care, they are required to file the right forms for specialty services such as surgery.  They must also utilize New York’s disability and permanent injury rating standards when providing opinions about your disability.  These requirements are often “foreign” to the doctors and can cause significant delays in your treatment.

Well before you move out of state it is highly recommended that you consult with your physician and inquire as to whether or not if they know of any doctor in the area you are moving to who is willing to accept your Workers’ Compensation claim.  Even if they don’t know a doctor, they may be able to give you advice as to how to find one.  You may also contact the Workers’ Compensation Board in the state you are moving to for help.  They will likely have a list of doctors  who treat work injuries. Planning ahead will hopefully lead to a seamless transition of your care in a different state. Once you have obtained a physician in your new home state, we will be happy to assist the doctor in complying with any and all regulations set forth in the Workers’ Compensation Law to ensure your benefits are uninterrupted.