How and Why to Document a Workplace Injury for Ohio Work Comp Claims

October 14, 2010 (Press-News.org) When you are injured on the job, you may realize immediately that you will be unable to work. Or, you might only feel a slight twinge. Whether your workplace injury happened after a catastrophic workplace accident or a muscle pull that limited your range of motion so that you cannot complete daily work tasks, you need to report your injury as soon as possible to be eligible for workers compensation benefits through the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC).

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Provides Tips to Report a Workplace Injury

The BWC suggests several steps you should take if you have been injured on the job. First, see a doctor. You may be rushed to an emergency room by ambulance after a toxic chemical spill or a serious car accident. You may come to the conclusion that you can no longer stand the back or wrist pain caused by using your work station. Whatever the cause of your workplace injury, you need to seek appropriate medical attention.

For your first medical visit, you can see any doctor that you choose. For any future medical treatments, you will need to pick a BWC-certified medical professional. If you use a doctor that is not BWC-certified, you may be responsible for the costs of medical treatment. If you need help finding a BWC-certified physician, the BWC's website offers a search feature. You can also contact the BWC at 1-800-OHIOBWC.

You should also understand how work comp medical claims are handled by the BWC. The BWC requires each employer to use either a Managed Care Organization (MCO) or, if your employer is self-insured, another managed care system to handle medical services claims and approvals. You should know the name of your employer's MCO -- you will tell your treating physician the name of the MCO. If your work comp claim is approved, the MCO will be responsible for paying your medical bills, approving treatment options and referrals, and paying your lost wages if you cannot work for more than eight days.

Reporting the Injury to Your Employer and Working with Medical Professionals

Second, report the injury to your employer. Your employer may have a human resources representative that typically handles injury reports. Your employer may have an internal incident report or accident claim that you need to fill out. Ask for the internal incident report, fill it out and return it to your employer.

Third, as you make medical appointments or receive medical care, make sure that the name of your employer's MCO is on file with your doctor or hospital. Your medical professional must know where to send your medical bills for payment.

Fourth, if you have been prescribed medications for your injury, inform the pharmacist that your injury is work-related and that your prescriptions will be covered under a work comp claim. You need to provide your Social Security number and the date of your injury. You can also provide a BWC claim number if you have it, but it is not necessary.

The BWC advises that if you do not have an approved work comp claim but need to fill a medication for your work injury, you should ask your doctor to prescribe small dosages of generic drugs. You may have to pay for these drugs out-of-pocket until your work comp claim is approved. If your work comp claim is approved, you will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.

Filing a Worker's Compensation Claim with BWC

Finally, you are ready to file a worker's compensation claim. You can accomplish this in several ways. If you are at the doctor's office or emergency room, you don't have to worry about filing a work comp claim before getting treated. If your employer has a MCO, you can tell your doctor to file a work comp claim with the MCO or at the BWC's website. If your employer uses another managed care system, you should file the work comp claim with your employer. You can also file the work comp claim yourself or have your employer file the work comp claim for you.

Why It Is Important To Document Your Work Injury Immediately

Obviously, the time after a workplace injury and during medical treatment can be very stressful and overwhelming. But filing a successful workers compensation claim requires several steps and clear documentation of your injury and its cause. Workers who cannot show that their injuries relate to an incident on the job will probably be denied work comp benefits. An experienced workplace injury lawyer can help you to file a work comp claim or contest an unfavorable decision by the BWC. Talk to an attorney about your work comp rights.

Article provided by OhioBWCAttorney.com
Visit us at www.ohiobwcattorney.com