USCC Workers Comp 2023 - 82

82 | 2023 Analysis of Workers' Compensation Laws
Chart IX-Waiting Period for Income/Medical Benefits
Jurisdiction Waiting Period1
Retroactive
Period
Alabama
Alaska
Three days3
Three days, for income
benefits only
21 days
Four weeks
Unlimited2
Yes
Reasonable
and necessary;
subject to
frequency
standards5
Arizona
Arkansas
Seven days
Seven days7
Two weeks
Two weeks
Yes
No8
Choice of Physician
Employer
Initial choice
May have preferred
provider list and
may have employee
examined by their own
medical examiner
Initial choice6
Initial choice from
among those
associated with
managed care
entities certified by
commission
California9
Three days10
14 days
Yes-subject
to medical
utilization
guidelines
Colorado
Three days
Two weeks
Yes
Choose from medical
provider network list
Artificial
Employee
Yes4
Free to choose any attending
physician, need not use a
physician on employer's
preferred provider list
Yes6
The claimant has a right to a
one-time change of physician.
Appliances
Furnished
Yes
Yes
Medical Benefits
Special Provisions
Employer must replace appliances damaged in work-related accident and
provide physical and vocational rehabilitation.
Injury includes damages to eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, or any
prosthetic devices.
Yes
Yes
Prayer or spiritual treatment by agreement.
Spiritual treatment by agreement. Glasses, contact lenses, and hearing
aids. Reasonable travel expenses to obtain treatment.
If employee has predesignated
a physician before time of injury
and has health care insurance,
may treat with physician
Initial choice from
employer-provided
list of designated
providers
Employee has one-time right to
change physicians to another
one on list provided by employer
within 90 days from the date of
injury if prior to MMI.
Connecticut
Three days
One week
Yes
Employer provides
initial treatment.
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida
Three days12
Three days
Seven days7
Seven days12
Two weeks
21 days
Yes
Yes
Yes13
Yes13
From state list or list of
managed care providers (MCPs)
if employer has approved MCP.
Yes
Yes
The claimant has a right to a
one-time change of physician-
employer/carrier choice.13
Yes
Includes X-ray reports, medical reports, and testimony and laboratory
fees reasonably required to prove a claim. If requested, an employee
may change physicians at any time, one time only. Once a claim is
filed, the employer must pay up to $10,000 in medical care during case
pendency. Medical payments can stop when case is denied. Limited to
24 chiropractic, 24 occupational, and 24 physical therapy appointments.
Yes
Employer must offer written list of at least four physicians, if there
are fewer than nine but more than three physicians within 30 miles
of the employer's place of business willing to treat an injured worker.
The employer must offer at least two physicians, if there are three or
fewer physicians willing to treat an injured worker within 30 miles of
the employer's place of business. The employer must designate one
physician.
Yes11
Worker compensated for time lost due to medical attention. Employer
must repair or replace appliances damaged in employment, including
eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, or dentures where injury is to
face or head. Prayer or spiritual treatment with commissioner's approval.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Employer must replace prosthesis and furnish hearing aids as needed.
Spiritual treatment by agreement. Medical care furnished or scheduled
to be furnished is subject to utilization review for determinations of
necessity, character, or sufficiency of care or service.
Injury includes damage to dentures, eyeglasses, and prosthetic devices
in conjunction with accident. Employer must provide professional or
nonprofessional attendant and/or custodial care. The carrier and/
or the employee may select an independent medical examiner in
disputes concerning overutilization, medical benefits, compensability, or
disability.13
USCC Workers Comp 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of USCC Workers Comp 2023
