Lawyers For Urgent Care Centers
While doctors hired by insurance carriers and employers are supposed to be objective, some of them may establish financially rewarding relationships with said insurers and employers. For that reason, it is in an employee’s best interest to know their options when the workers’ compensation insurance company is sending them to physicians they may not know or trust. It is essential to note that treating physicians play a big role in one’s workers’ compensation case. Falling out with the provider may have a detrimental impact on your claim. At Cardinal Law Partners, we strive to help our clients obtain treatment through the correct avenues such as properly credentialed and licensed urgent care centers.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance program that ensures employees for physical injuries and illnesses that may arise out of the job. In North Carolina, workers’ compensation coverage is required by law for any employer that has three or more employees. In addition to receiving basic medical treatment, injured workers may also have a portion of their wages replaced through the workers’ compensation program.
When Do You Need to Visit Urgent Care Centers?
It is important to remember that emergency rooms usually operate on a triage system. This means that most life-threatening injuries will be treated first. If an individual does not have a life-threatening injury, he or she will likely have to wait to be treated. With that in mind, employees with non-life-threatening injuries can still receive immediate care so that they can return to work in as little time as possible. Accordingly, an employer will typically direct their injured employees to visit the nearest urgent care center. Today, urgent care centers provide medical treatment for non-emergency work-related injuries, including:
- Strains
- Minor Burns
- Fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Back injuries
- Minor Trauma
- Sprains
Common Problems Encountered During Workers’ Compensation Claims Processes
After a reported workplace injury, it is typically the employer that sends the injured worker to an Urgent Care center. The physician or physician assistant at the facility will usually make recommendations depending on whether they feel the injured worker’s complaints can be adequately treated at the Urgent Care facility. It is common for us to see delays in getting treatment authorized. If your Urgent Care facility’s recommendations are not authorized in a day or two, your workers’ compensation insurance carrier may be delaying or denying the claims process. Below is a quick look at some of the common scenarios:
- Insurance companies denying one’s request for treatment
- Insurance companies simply not approving the treatment without denying the request
- Insurance companies avoiding the scheduling of an expensive specialist
- Insurance companies delaying the approval process by getting a second opinion from the treatment specialist or by utilization review documents
- Insurance companies partially approve a doctor’s recommendations
How Cardinal Law Partners Can Help
Since our inception, Cardinal Law Partners has been providing first-class legal services for a wide range of workers’ compensation claimants. Our well-trained team can handle all of our clients’ short-term and long-term legal problems. From requesting a hearing in court, or filing the right form at the right time, our clients can be sure that they will receive the best possible legal representation.
Cardinal Law Partners serves a diverse clientele that is comprised of workers across the entire State of North Carolina with offices in Charlotte, Belmont, Raleigh, and Greensboro. With 50 years of collective legal experience, our team can develop individualized and winning legal strategies to effectively resolve our client’s problems.
If you wish to learn more about Cardinal Law Partners’ stellar expertise in healthcare providers such as urgent care centers, do not hesitate to schedule a free, initial consultation with us today!
