You Have the Sole Right to Select Your Treating Physician!

FECA/OWCP Provides for Unlimited Treatment for Your Lifetime!

You Can Select or Change Your Treating Doctor at Any Time

You select your doctor when you get injured.  You can write to OWCP requesting a change in your treating doctor at anytime.  Provide doctor’s name and address and reason for the change, i.e., my doctor referred me to Dr. Welby, my doctor will not see injured federal patients, etc.

You do not have to write OWCP for a change of doctor in these situations:

• Your doctor sends you for one time consultation.
• Your doctor sends you for surgery.  The surgeon automatically becomes your treating doctor until they send you back to your doctor who again becomes your treating doctor.
• Your treating doctor can be anyone in the United States.
• FECA/OWCP pays up to 100 miles for you to see your treating doctor.
• You can see any doctor in any state for medical rationale causation reports, Schedule Award impairment rating reports, or consultation.

You Do Not Have to Accept Your Employer’s Doctor

• Employers can send you for emergency treatment.
• If you continue with the employer’s doctor, then you have chosen your treating doctor.  You can always request a change in your treating doctor.
• OWCP &/or Employers can send you for second opinion examinations.
• OWCP pays for second opinion examinations and travel expenses.
• Work Restrictions are determined by your treating doctor and not the second opinion doctor.

Your doctor can agree or disagree.  If they disagree they should provide OWCP with a rebuttal medical report which has higher probative (legal) value because it is from the treating doctor.