Understanding Your Medical Rights After a Work Injury
If you’ve been injured on the job, one of your first and most urgent questions might be:
“Do I get to choose my own doctor?”
In California workers’ compensation cases, the answer is:
Sometimes — but only under specific conditions.
Your ability to select your own physician depends on when you were injured, whether you pre-designated a doctor, and whether your employer uses a Medical Provider Network (MPN).
At Employees First Labor Law, we help injured workers get the care they need — and fight back when employers or insurance carriers try to limit their choices.
🏥 Who Decides Your Doctor in a Workers’ Comp Claim?
By default, your employer (through their insurance carrier) controls your medical treatment during a workers’ compensation claim — at least initially.
But there are three key exceptions that may allow you to choose your own doctor:
✅ 1. You Pre-Designated a Doctor Before the Injury
If you notified your employer in writing before your injury that you wanted to use your personal physician, and that doctor agreed to treat you for work-related injuries, you may be able to use your own doctor from day one.
Requirements to pre-designate:
- The doctor is your regular primary care provider (not an urgent care clinic)
- You have health insurance for non-work injuries
- You submitted a written pre-designation form to your employer before the injury
- The doctor agrees in advance to be your workers’ comp treating physician
🚑 2. You’re Not Covered by an MPN (Medical Provider Network)
If your employer’s insurance company does not use a certified MPN, you may have more freedom to choose your treating doctor after the first 30 days of care.
What happens in this situation:
- You must treat with the employer’s chosen doctor for the first 30 days
- After 30 days, you can switch to a doctor of your choice, so long as they are willing to handle workers’ comp cases
Note: Some employers may try to conceal or misrepresent their MPN status — if you’re unsure, contact an attorney immediately.
🩺 3. You Switch Within the MPN (if Your Employer Uses One)
Most large employers in California have an MPN — a network of pre-approved doctors. If you’re in an MPN system, you typically can’t go outside the network without authorization, but you can still:
- Request a change of doctor within the MPN
- Ask for a second or third opinion if you disagree with treatment
- Challenge delays, denials, or insufficient care
👉 Learn more about treatment denials and utilization review
⚖️ What If I’m Not Getting Proper Medical Care?
You have rights. Under California Labor Code § 4600, injured workers are entitled to “reasonable and necessary medical treatment” to cure or relieve the effects of the injury.
If you’re facing:
- Long wait times for referrals or authorizations
- Denial of needed tests, surgeries, or therapy
- Rushed visits or ignored complaints
- A doctor who seems biased toward the insurance company
…you may be able to switch physicians or challenge the care through the Independent Medical Review (IMR) process.
👉 Explore how to fight denied treatment in workers’ comp
🧾 How to Change Your Workers’ Comp Doctor in California
Here’s how you can take control of your care:
- Ask your claims adjuster for a list of MPN doctors
- Submit a written request to switch within the network
- If no MPN: Submit a change-of-physician form after 30 days
- If you disagree with treatment: Request a second opinion or QME exam
- Contact a workers’ comp attorney to ensure the process is handled properly
🧠 Pro Tip: Insurers Favor “Friendly” Doctors
Insurance companies often send workers to “company doctors” who are quick to minimize injuries, return employees to work early, or deny referrals for further treatment.
That’s why having control over your treating doctor can make or break your case — not just for care, but also for determining:
- Your temporary disability payments
- Whether you have permanent impairments
- What future care you’ll need
- How much your case may settle for
🧩 Why You Need a Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Medical Issues
At Employees First Labor Law, we’ve seen all the ways employers and insurers try to manipulate the system. We help clients:
- Switch to trusted, independent doctors
- Get denied treatments approved
- Coordinate QME and IMR processes
- Maximize medical and disability benefits
Medical care is your right — and we make sure you’re not stuck with a provider who puts profits ahead of people.
📞 Need Help Choosing or Changing Your Workers’ Comp Doctor? Call EFLL Today.
If you’re unsure whether you can choose your own doctor, or you’re stuck with a provider who isn’t helping, let Employees First Labor Law step in.
✅ Free consultations
✅ No fees unless we win
✅ Offices across California
✅ Spanish-speaking staff available
📩 Schedule a consultation
📞 Call us now to speak with a workers’ comp attorney
