In Iowa Workers Compensation cases we have discussed Alternate Medical Care.   But what happens when your physician prescribes or requests a certain treatment and the insurance carrier denies the request to get you treated? As we have often mentioned, the insurance companies can show very little concern for your welfare and may ask you to see a different doctor in their network. When you become injured on the job, Independent Medical Evaluations (IME) is set up by the insurance company to possibly get a different opinion.

The Beattie Law Firm is experienced in handling Iowa Workers Compensation cases where the insurance company denies treatment requested by your physician. We can represent the injured worker and file an Alternate Medical Care petition with the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. Action to petition for alternate medical care must happen immediately, as the Commissioner is will set a hearing with 10 days of the application.

On the other end of the spectrum, to set up and require an employee to go to an IME would take 30 days. We stress the petition should happen immediately should you disagree with the IME. By filing for Alternate Medical Care, you can have a hearing before the date is set for the IME and may hopefully have the decision reversed by the Industrial Commissioner and avoid the IME.

It is advisable for an injured work to have a lawyer representing the injured worker to file and present an Alternate Medical Care plan. We at the Beattie Law Firm routinely file for alternate care and we encourage you to contact us if you or a loved one becomes injured on the job.