Can a workers compensation health care network deny me the right to be a participating provider in its network?
A. HB 7 requires a workers’ compensation health care network to demonstrate that its network is adequate and has sufficient providers to meet the needs of injured workers. However, the bill does not require a network to contract with every provider who applies. The bill provides that a network is not required to accept an application for participation from a qualified provider if the network determines that the network has contracted with a sufficient number of qualified providers. Q. An injured employee I am currently treating informed me that his employer made him sign a form and provided the employee information about a new workers’ compensation network. The employee said he must now select a provider from the network. Can the employer do this? A. Yes. HB 7 requires that an employee who lives in a network’s service area who sustained a compensable injury before September 1, 2005, must receive medical treatment through a network provider if the insurance carrier liable for that care
