In addition to paying up to two-thirds of your lost wages due to a work-related injury, workers’ compensation should also provide for your medical expenses. The total value of this compensation depends on the extent of your injuries and how much medical care you require as a result.
Generally, alternative medicine treatments such as acupuncture and massage therapy are not covered by workers’ compensation. However, exceptions are sometimes made to these rules. One important thing to note is that seeking these treatments on your own cannot be used against you when filing for workers’ comp. If you choose to pay for alternative medicine treatments from your own pocket, the insurance company cannot use this as cause to deny compensation for your other medical expenses.
If an alternative medicine treatment is making a demonstrative difference in your condition and you need compensation to continue the treatment, you may be able to build a case on these grounds. This is best done with an attorney’s assistance, as you will need to provide evidence as to why this treatment is crucial to your recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you, call us at (712) 323-0999. Our Council Bluffs workers’ comp attorneys also serve clients throughout Nebraska and Iowa.
The answer may depend on whether you were hurt in Iowa or Nebraska. The facts of some claims allow jurisdiction in both states. Contact Gallner & Pattermann to find out more. Both states’ laws have benefits and detriments to an injured worker. If your claim is under Iowa law, the insurance carrier/employer may control the care in accepted claims.
However, if the care they provide is not sufficient or not suited to the condition, a petition for alternative care may be an option. In Nebraska, you can fill out a Form 50 and designate a physician if you or a close family member have a general practice doctor who has treated you or them prior to this injury.
Nebraska also has the surgical rule which allows an injured worker to select their surgeon for serious surgical procedures. Call us to find out more.
