Archive for November, 2011

FedDoctor has new features

Monday, November 28th, 2011

FedDoctor.com is always interested in how we can improve. Our goal is to connect as many federal employees as we can to qualified doctors who understand the federal injury systems. This is harder than it seems!

We have added some new features to the website. First, our Resource Center has received a face lift. A more colorful display and easier to follow organization should help you find the information that you are looking for.

We have also received an overwhelming response to adding the phone numbers of our providers’ offices. This is an easy way for you to immediately get into contact with the care providers that can help you get the treatment you need for your federal workers compensation claim.

Keep checking back with us as we continue to add new doctors to the site. We believe that you deserve quality care for your work related injury and this is the place to find it.

FedDoctor is growing!

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

FedDoctor has been growing! We continue to scour the nation for great medical providers that understand how to deal with the federal workers compensation office.

Don’t fight the OWCP on your own! They can be difficult to understand and require complex medical paperwork just to open your claim. Let an experienced doctor who understands the forms take control of the OWCP paperwork.

This is an opportunity for you to get the treatment and benefits that are supposed to be a part of the federal workers compensation system. We are looking to add more doctors in new areas and provide every federal employee with a quality medical option for treatment and evaluations.

Sign up for our newsletter, subscribe to our blogs, Like our Facebook page or follow our Twitter feed to stay up to date. Be the leader of your local union! This information can change one your friends lives. Sharing FedDoctor.com is a way you can help federal employees from all federal agencies across the country!

Stay tuned, FedDoctor is on the move…

Federal Workers Compensation Doctors

Monday, November 14th, 2011

If you are a federal employee, you know that the government systems are completely different from those of non-government employees. Workers compensation is no different.

The federal workers compensation system has a different set of rules and regulations than any state law. Because of that, it is very difficult to find doctors with an extensive knowledge about how to properly process claims with the OWCP.

While you may wish to get an attorney involved with your case, many are not capable of helping you unless you have a major claim that is already in posture for an award.

Getting your claim accepted by the OWCP can be the most difficult part of the process. If it is accepted, you may have trouble getting the necessary medical procedures approved and paid for by the workers compensation office. This is where you need to be sure that your physician understands the OWCP.

Doctors with real experience and understanding of the OWCP system are few and far between. Getting the right physician early in the claim process can mean the difference between a smooth claim and return to health and having to fight tooth and nail for even the simplest of requests.

Dealing with an on-the-job injury is frustrating enough without having to deal with compensation denials. We want you to get the medical attention that you need and the benefits that you are entitled to. Finding the best doctor in your area for your claim is the way to get your claim started right.

While you may eventually choose to, you do not have to switch your primary care to your federal doctor. Let them handle your federal workers compensation issues and help you get your claim moving in the right direction.

The American Medical Association 6th Edition Guidelines and the OWCP

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Everyone who has everĀ filed for schedule award benefit fromĀ the OWCP is familiar with the AMA Guides to Rating a Permanent Impairment.

On May 1, 2009 the OWCP switched to the newest form of the book, the 6th Edition. This significantly changed the way doctors rate your permanent impairment.

Previously, under the 5th edition of the guides, most impairment was based on the loss of range of motion. The 6th edition changed to a more predominately diagnosis based impairment.

This can significantly change the way that your schedule award will be calculated. Remember that the federal government workers compensation office asks that the impairment ratings be done differently than almost every state law workers compensation. It is important that when it comes time to have your injury rated, that you get a doctor who is qualified and has experience working with the OWCP.

FedDoctor.com members understand the process and how to do 6th edition AMA ratings on your OWCP accepted injury. Getting the calculation right is important, but they understand how to properly document and assign your impairment under your claim.

Remember that every doctor charges for these services differently, so make sure you call their office and request the cost of the report. This report will determine how much money you get for you injury. Even if it is out of pocket, it may be well worth your while to pay for this report.

Find your new impairment rating doctor here and get started on your recovery.

Help us help you!

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

FedDoctor.com is a free service that allows federal employees to find talented doctors in their local area that have experience and an interest in helping them with not only treatment, but paperwork from their federal workers compensation claims.

Many of you who have never suffered a federal work related injury may not understand the significance of this service. The Department of Labor’s Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP), is a form of self insurance. In most states, employers are required to purchase workers compensation insurance in case one of their employees is injured on the job. The federal government employs over 2.5 million men and women, but instead of buying insurance from a company, it chooses to self insure. The OWCP is the agency that governs the rules and regulations.

Because that is different from any other employer in your home state, most doctors are not familiar with their system. Remember that federal employees are outnumbered 50-1 in most areas and most doctors do not take the time to learn about the different rules for 2% of the potential patient base. They instead choose to stay with their regular, non-federal patient systems.

This puts federal employees at a disadvantage. When they get injured on the job and the OWCP starts asking for form completion or detailed causation narratives, many doctors will give it a try, become disheartened by the OWCP seeming lack of cooperation, and then give up on the process.

Why would they want to spend all of that extra time just for one patient? It doesn’t make sound business sense.

But some doctors have learned the federal workers compensation system. They are few and far between, but they can make the difference in whether your claim is approved or denied, whether you get certain treatments or surgeries, or whether you are ever compensated for your injury.

This doesn’t mean that you need to switch doctors right now. But if you or anyone else that you know gets hurt on the job, you need to see a federal doctor as quickly as possible. These doctors can help you document your injury from the very beginning.

But we need your help! FedDoctor is a new idea and is absolutely the first of its kind. We need for you to tell everyone you know. Every union member, every federal employee, even your current doctor. If your doctor has helped in the past with an OWCP claim, tell him to contact us. We may have already received emails from federal employees in that area who would like to start seeing him.

Please get up at your next union meeting and share. Forward our newsletter to your union stewards and like our Facebook page. We have a twitter feed and blogs that we update very often. Subscribe and be the light to your area. The information and doctors that are found on this website will absolutely change the lives of the people that read it.

FedDoctor is here to help you get treated…Fairly.

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