Whether you’re an employee or an employer, understanding workers’ compensation is key to staying protected when a workplace injury or illness happens. While it might sound complex, workers’ comp is simply a system designed to help employees recover while reducing liability for employers.
Here’s what you need to know – broken down in plain language.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance paid for by an employer to cover expenses related to workplace injury, illness, or accident. It typically covers:
- Medical bills and treatment
- Lost wages
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits
- Vocational retraining
- Death benefits (in tragic cases)
- Related out-of-pocket expenses
Employers pay a monthly or annual premium – just like they would for home or auto insurance. When an injury occurs, a claim is filed, and the workers’ comp insurance company evaluates the situation to determine benefits. If you’d like to learn more about the basics of workers’ comp, the U.S. Department of Labor offers a helpful overview that breaks it down for both employees and employers.
How Is Workers’ Comp Regulated?
Workers’ compensation is regulated at the state level, meaning rules can vary significantly depending on where you live or work.
All states except Texas require employers to carry workers’ comp insurance (unless they are sole proprietors or independent contractors). Each state has its own Workers’ Compensation Act that outlines:
- Who qualifies for coverage
- What medical providers can be used
- How claims are handled and appealed
- Benefit limits and timelines
If you’re interested in diving deeper, Forbes provides a useful breakdown of state laws.
Who Treats Workers’ Comp Patients?
There are physicians who specialize in treating injured workers. These providers are called occupational medicine physicians, and they focus on:
- Diagnosing and treating work-related injuries
- Managing return-to-work timelines
- Coordinating care with physical therapy or vocational rehab
- Navigating state and employer regulations
Some workplaces – especially hospitals, factories, or distribution centers – may even have on-site occupational medicine providers. For urgent or serious injuries, workers may be treated first at an Urgent Care center or Emergency Department.
Can I Choose My Own Doctor for a Work Injury?
It depends on your state’s laws. Some states let injured workers choose their own provider (usually up to a set number of doctors). Others operate under employer-choice or panel rules, which limit your options to pre-approved providers.
Types of physician choice systems:
- Employee-choice states: You choose the provider.
- Employer-choice states: Your employer designates the provider.
- Panel states: You choose from a list of 2-3 approved providers in each specialty.
Even in employer-choice states, some employers choose not to designate a specific provider – so it’s always worth asking about your options.
What Is an Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)?
An Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) is a one-time assessment performed by a physician who is not involved in your care. Their role is to review your records, examine you, and provide an objective opinion about your condition or treatment plan.
IME doctors:
- Do not treat or establish a doctor-patient relationship
- Are selected by the employer, insurer, or (in some cases) your attorney
- Often weigh in on surgery recommendations, return-to-work status, or claim disputes
In some states, if an employer requests an IME, the injured worker may be allowed to seek a rebuttal IME with a provider of their own choosing – if state laws permit.
How Ivy Rehab Can Help
At Ivy Rehab, we support both workers and employers in navigating recovery after an injury. Our therapists are trained not just in rehab, but in ergonomics, injury prevention, and return-to-work planning.
If you’ve experienced an injury – on or off the job – or work in a physically demanding role, we can help with personalized rehabilitation, job-specific movement training, ergonomic recommendations, and work conditioning and functional capacity evaluations (FCEs).
Learn more about Ivy Rehab’s Workers’ Compensation services
Employers: If you’re seeing recurring injuries or want to reduce time away from work, Ivy offers solutions like on-site injury prevention programs, return-to-work evaluations, job demands analysis, and ergonomics training. Let’s work together to keep your team safe, healthy, and productive.
Article by: Matthew Lesniak, PT, DPT, FCE-Evaluator Clinical Specialist, Ivy Rehab in Lisle, IL
Matt began his physical therapy career in 2009 after earning his DPT from Northwestern University. He treats patients of all ages and abilities, specializing in industrial athletes, overhead athletes, and post-surgical rehab. As a member of the Illinois Advisory Board for the Workers Compensation Research Institute, Matt brings deep insight into work-related injury recovery. He leads Work Conditioning programs, performs FCEs, and is passionate about helping patients return to work stronger and more confident.
