VIRGINIA
Employee Selects from Panel
As long as necessary after an accident, the employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the injured employee, a physician chosen by the injured employee from a panel of at least 3 physicians selected by the employer and such other necessary medical attention. (Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-603 (A)(1))

Change of Provider
Once treatment begins, the physician cannot be changed without approval of the employer/carrier or after a hearing by the Commission. (Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-603; 16VAC30-50-20. Rule 1; VA Workers' Compensation Commission website: http://vwc.state.va.us/sites/default/files/documents/Injured-Workers-Guide.pdf

Panels
Required

Panel Provisions
As long as necessary after an accident, the employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the injured employee, a physician chosen by the injured employee from a panel of at least 3 physicians selected by the employer and such other necessary medical attention. (Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-603 (A)(1))

If the injured employee has an injury which may be treated within the scope of practice for a chiropractor, then the employer or insurer may include chiropractors on the panel provided the injured employee. (Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-603(F.))

In previous discussions with VA regulators, the state has advised that a clinic with no physician name is not valid. The physician must be listed in order for the panel to be valid.

Per The Employer's Obligation to Provide Medical Care in Workers' Compensation Cases document

The employer's obligation to provide causally related medical treatment begins immediately following the work-related accident. Initially, the employer must provide the claimant a panel of at least three physicians selected by the employer. The panel must include a minimum of three physicians who are not in the same practice group or who do not otherwise share a community of interest. The initial panel may include medical care providers whose special area of practice is relevant to the medical condition

The claimant choose one physician from this panel who then becomes the primary or authorized treating physician for the work-related http://vwc.state.va.us/sites/default/files/documents/Injured-Workers-Guide.pdf

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.