FLORIDA
Employer or Carrier Selects
If the employer fails to provide initial treatment or care required by this section after request by the injured employee, the employee may obtain such initial treatment at the expense of the employer, if the initial treatment or care is compensable and medically necessary and is in accordance with established practice parameters and protocols of treatment as provided for in this chapter. There must be a specific request for the initial treatment or care, and the employer or carrier must be given a reasonable time period within which to provide the initial treatment or care. (Fla. Stat. § 440.13(2)(c))

Change of Provider
Upon the written request of the employee, the carrier shall give the employee the opportunity for one change of physician during the course of treatment for any one accident. Upon the granting of a change of physician, the originally authorized physician in the same specialty as the changed physician shall become de-authorized upon written notification by the employer or carrier. The carrier shall authorize an alternative physician who shall not be professionally affiliated with the previous physician within 5 days after receipt of the request. If the carrier fails to provide a change of physician as requested by the employee, the employee may select the physician and such physician shall be considered authorized if the treatment being provided is compensable and medically necessary (Fla. Stat. § 440.13(2)(f))

Panels
Not Addressed

Panel Provisions
See Direction of Care law.

FLORIDA MCA
Employee Selects from Network
The insurer or delegated entity, may direct injured employees to a single primary care provider or a selected group of primary care providers within the provider network for assessment and initial treatment. However, the employee shall have the right to select a primary care provider and thereafter, to request one change of primary care provider and of each authorized treating specialty provider during the course of treatment for each injury. The injured employee shall select a primary care provider from a current list of all primary care providers in the approved service area within 30 minutes average travel time of the employee's employment site. (59A-23.003(7)(i) F.A.C.)

Travel Times. Each application shall provide information which indicates the ability of the insurer or delegated entity to provide geographic access to health services for injured employees. Average travel time for injured employees from the employee's usual employment site to the nearest primary care delivery site and to the nearest general acute care hospital in the provider network shall be no longer than 30 minutes under normal circumstances. Average travel time from the employee's usual employment site to the nearest provider of specialty physician services, ancillary services, specialty inpatient hospital services and all other health services shall be no longer than 60 minutes under normal circumstances. (59A-23.003(6) F.A.C.)

An insurer must make full and fair disclosure in writing of the provisions, restrictions, and limitations of the workers' compensation MCA to affected workers, including at least: (a) A description, including address and phone number, of the providers, including primary care physicians, specialty physicians, hospitals, and other providers. (Fla. Stat. § 440.134 (14))

Change of Provider
The insurer or delegated entity, may direct injured employees to a single primary care provider or a selected group of primary care providers within the provider network for assessment and initial treatment. However, the employee shall have the right to select a primary care provider and thereafter, to request one change of primary care provider and of each authorized treating specialty provider during the course of treatment for each injury. (59A-23.003(7)(i))

Panels
Not Addressed

Panel Provisions
See the Direction of Care law for network access requirements.

The information on this website constitutes summary information only and does not constitute legal advice. Review of the full text of the referenced statutes and regulations may be necessary. Coventry Health Care Workers' Compensation, Inc. makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information contained on this website.