Can the employee choose the treating doctor or hospital?
Yes, but there are limits. The employee is entitled to choose two medical providers and any other providers to whom the employee is referred. That means an employee may initially choose any doctor or hospital, even if the provider is outside the employee’s regular insurance network, and go to any doctor to whom the employee is referred by that provider. If desired, the employee may then choose another doctor or hospital, and again go to any doctor to whom the employee is referred by the provider. Generally, if the employee chooses a third doctor without the employer’s approval, the employer is not required to pay for those services. First aid and emergency care are not considered to be one of the worker’s two choices.
