Switching doctors for a Utah Worker’s Compensation Case
After suffering a work-related injury in Utah, you have an absolute right under Utah worker’s compensation laws to change your doctor one time. This right is found in Ut.Admin.Code. R612-300-3 which states:
“The employee may make one change of doctor without requesting the permission of the carrier, so long as the carrier is promptly notified of the change by the employee.
(a) Physician referrals for treatment or consultation shall not be considered a change of doctor.
(b) Changes from emergency room facilities to private physicians, unless the emergency room is named as the “company doctor”, shall not be considered a change of doctor. However, once private physician care has begun, emergency room visits are prohibited except in cases of:
(i) Private physician referral, or
(ii) Threat to life.”
Essentially then, if you have been injured while at work in Utah and feel more comfortable receiving treatment from your own physician, you may do so, but will be required to complete a FORM 102 and send a copy of that form to the labor commission and to the insurance carrier as soon as you intend to make the switch to another physician. That form can be found here.
