Moved Out of State, Cannot Find a W/C Dr. in the State I Moved To.help

[Sfink2007]

I moved out of state (the state, Minnesota, Where I was injured at work). I moved across country to be with family. I cannot find a Physician to take Workman's compensation in the state of Idaho (where I moved TO).
My W/C insurance company has no information on who I can go to(surprise, surprise).
Does the W/C company have to pay for me to go back to my state of injury, for me to get treatment? What other options do I have. I have issues with my vertebra that need treatment, possibly surgery, soon.
My regular insurance company won't pay, as it is a previous existing condition.
I am in pain, and no where to turn. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

[tony]

Does the W/C company have to pay for me to go back to my state of injury, for me to get treatment?

No, no one forced you to move without notice, that was your decision.

You must coordinate this move with your doctor beforehand so he can provide enough meds until you see the next doctor and coordinate your care.
The carrier is obligated to provide treatment only if you follow protocol, which includes keeping them and the doctor informed of any changes and cooperating with treatments.
Moving without first notifying your doctor isn't cooperating with treatments.

I am in pain, and no where to turn.

Now who's fault is that?
You seriously never thought of that before you suddenly picked up and moved without notice?
If you moved without informing your doctor, they may claim you're not cooperating with treatments and cut benefits.

What did you tell your doctor at your last appointment?
Did you inform him of your intentions to move and ask for a referral or how to get one?
If you have a narcotics contract you may have bigger problems.

What other options do I have.

This is a hell of a time to think about that after you already made a decision to move.
You should've coordinated this with your doctor and the carrier before you moved.

I've always questioned when someone claiming to be in pain just picks up and moves without making plans or coordinating with the doctor and carrier.
Why would someone in need of treatment, in terrible pain and in need of "possible surgery soon" just suddenly pick up and move without worrying about the consequences? Somethings missing to this story.
I'd say to accept your mistake and go back to get treatment - this time do it right and coordinate your move with the doctor and carrier before doing so.

Tony

[complwyr]

The easiest solution is to travel back to where you came from and get treatment from your previous, authorized doctor. And if he writes you a script for narcotics, don't assume you can get a script for that filled in Idaho from a Doctor in Minnesota. You will need to investigate that issue before you get a Minnesota script and try to fill it in Idaho.

[tony]

if he writes you a script for narcotics, don't assume you can get a script for that filled in Idaho from a Doctor in Minnesota. You will need to investigate that issue before you get a Minnesota script and try to fill it in Idaho.

That's why he needs to disclose his intentions to his doctor, have him make a referral to a doctor in Idaho and coordinate the transfer of care.

There's a clause in that narcotics contract that states he must inform the doc prescribing narcotics of his intention to seek care elsewhere and have him coordinate the transfer of care.
Interstate travel to obtain narcotics from different doctors without disclosure will land you in jail every time.
They now have a national data base to detect such activity, you won't get away with it in the computer age.

States Require Opioid Prescribers to Check for 'Doctor Shopping'
By tapping into a database of opioid painkillers and other federally controlled substances dispensed in the state, physicians can check patients’ opioid medication history, as well as their use of other combinations of potentially harmful drugs, such as sedatives and muscle relaxants, to determine whether they are at risk of addiction or overdose death.
Prescribers also can determine whether patients are already receiving painkillers or other controlled substances from other sources, a practice known as doctor shopping. Patients with this type of history are at high risk for addiction and overdose and may be selling drugs illicitly.
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research...octor-shopping

Tony

[complwyr]

Well, relocating is not quite the same as doctor shopping, but it may well raise some questions that the poster will have to answer.