Types of Medical Care You Can Receive While on Workers’ Compensation in Ohio

If you have been injured or gotten sick on the job in Ohio, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Ohio’s workers’ compensation system covers most employees, and it covers all types of job-related injuries and illnesses. To make sure your medical bills are covered, you will want to speak with a Columbus workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.

Eligible employees can receive two main types of benefits: medical and disability. Medical benefits cover the costs of diagnosis and treatment, while disability benefits cover a portion of your lost income if you are unable to work. In this article, we are focusing on medical benefits and the types of medical care you can receive while on workers’ compensation in Ohio.

Types of Medical Care Covered Under Workers’ Compensation

In Ohio, workers’ compensation covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses resulting from a job-related injury or illness. If your employer is self-insured, it will cover your medical costs directly. If your employer isn’t self-insured (and most employers aren’t), your healthcare providers will bill the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC), which will then send your medical bills to a Managed Care Organization (MCO) for review, processing, and payment.

In all cases, the types of medical care covered under workers compensation in Ohio include:

• Diagnostic Testing – You are entitled to an accurate diagnosis of your medical condition. This means that you can receive a physical examination, blood tests, X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and other forms of diagnostic testing needed to ensure that you receive appropriate treatment.
• Emergency Medical Care – If you need emergency medical care for an on-the-job injury or illness, the costs of this care should be covered under workers’ compensation as well. As discussed below, you do not need to see an approved healthcare provider for your first visit.
• Inpatient Treatment – If you need inpatient treatment for any length of time, workers’ compensation should cover the full cost of your stay in the hospital. This includes coverage for all medical supplies and services.
• Outpatient Treatment – From follow-up doctor’s visits to assess how injuries are healing to chemotherapy or radiation treatment for job-related cancer, all forms of outpatient treatment are also covered under workers’ compensation in Ohio. The key is to make sure you attend your doctor’s appointments so that you aren’t responsible for making your medical condition worse than necessary.
• Surgical Procedures – From bone fractures and soft tissue tears to severe traumatic injuries that require amputation, many types of job-related injuries will require surgery. If you need surgery for an on-the-job injury, a Columbus workers compensation attorney at Malek & Malek Law Firm can help make sure the costs of your procedure are covered.
• Medications – We can help make sure you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket for any medications you need as well. From NSAIDS and other pain medications and anti-inflammatories to anti-bacterial medications for fighting infections, all types of necessary medications are covered under workers’ compensation in Ohio.
• Medical Supplies and Equipment – Along with medications, eligible employees are also entitled to coverage for any medical supplies or medical equipment they need during the recovery process. This includes everything from bandages and ointments to crutches and wheelchairs.
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation – For many employees, recovering from an on-the-job injury is a lengthy process. If you need physical therapy in order to get back on your feet or get back to work, the full cost of your therapy sessions should be covered. Workers’ compensation should cover any other forms of rehabilitative therapy you need as well.
• Medical Transportation – Finally, workers’ compensation also covers medical transportation in Ohio. From ambulance rides to the cost of getting to and from your doctor’s appointments or physical therapy appointments, our attorneys can help make sure these costs are covered for you as well. The key is to keep track of your costs and make sure they get billed to the Ohio BWC and your assigned MCO as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, when you have a workers’ compensation claim, your medical providers should send their bills to the Ohio BWC directly. If you receive any medical bills for care related to your on-the-job injury or illness, you should contact your Columbus workers’ compensation attorney promptly. Likewise, if you pay for any medications or medical supplies out of pocket, you should let the pharmacy know that you have an open workers’ compensation claim—and the pharmacy should fill out a form so that you can receive a reimbursement from the Ohio BWC.

Of course, while workers’ compensation should cover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your on-the-job injury or illness, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will. The workers’ compensation system is complicated, and, simply put, employees don’t always receive the benefits they deserve. Our attorneys can help make sure you don’t have to pay any covered medical expenses out of pocket, and if you are entitled to disability benefits, we can handle your workers’ compensation disability claim on your behalf as well.

Restrictions on Healthcare Providers Under Ohio’s Workers’ Compensation System

While workers’ compensation covers all forms of reasonable and necessary medical care in Ohio, there are restrictions on where covered employees can go for care. You can see any doctor you choose for your first visit, but after that, you must choose a provider that has been certified by the Ohio BWC. As the Ohio BWC makes clear, “If a worker has a non-BWC certified provider treat them for their work-related injury [after their first visit], they must pay their own medical bills.”

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Columbus Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Are you dealing with a job-related injury or illness? If so, a Columbus workers’ compensation attorney at Malek & Malek Law Firm can help make sure you receive the full benefits you deserve. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible, call 888-444-7440 or request an appointment online now.