After an injury, the employer and insurer are required to pay for all reasonable, necessary and causally related medical treatment. However, there are limits to the duration and frequency of certain treatments that you can receive. One of those treatments that have limits include chiropractic care. Typically, workers’ compensation covers 12 weeks of chiropractic treatment. This varies depending on each individual case. With that being said, it is possible to get additional treatment past 12 weeks if the treatment is “reasonable and necessary.”
Prior to getting the treatment, it is necessary that the chiropractor advises the employer and insurer that they are seeking further care and treatment. The chiropractor should give notice to the employer and insurer that you are seeking a “departure” for the treatment. It is also important that the chiropractor comply with the rules for providing the necessary information to the employer and insurer. You may want to talk with your chiropractor and find out whether or not they have previously prepared a departure letter. If they haven’t, you may want to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer, or even the State of Minnesota, so the appropriate departure letter can be sent. It is important to have the appropriate information submitted so the treatment can be approved.
If after the appropriate departure letter and information has been provided and the workers’ compensation insurer continues to deny the treatment, you would then want to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer to assit in getting the requested medical treatment. A claim would need to be filed with the State in order to get the treatment paid by workers’ compensation.
If you wish to discuss your case with a workers’ compensation lawyer, please feel free to contact our office. We are willing to discuss your case with you at no cost.
