TL;DR: Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), you may make the first choice of the physician who treats your work injury. After that, changing to a different physician takes a written request to OWCP that gives your reasons, and OWCP has to approve it. The one exception is a referral: when your physician sends you to a specialist, you do not need OWCP's approval. Your employer cannot authorize a change of physician. Do not stop seeing your current physician or start with a new one until OWCP has approved the change.
Your first choice of physician
FECA says the employee “may initially select a physician to provide medical services” for the work injury, under the Department of Labor's rules (5 U.S.C. §8103(a)). OWCP then pays for the medical services, appliances and supplies that a qualified physician prescribes or recommends and that OWCP considers necessary to treat the work-related injury (20 CFR 10.310(a)). You do not have to be off work to get that treatment.
Who counts as a “physician” under FECA
FECA defines “physician” to include surgeons, podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, chiropractors (for limited services) and osteopathic practitioners, within the scope of their practice under state law (5 U.S.C. §8101(2)). Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and physical therapists are not on that list. OWCP's rules say these providers may also provide authorized services to injured employees, to the extent federal and state law allow (20 CFR 10.310(b)).
That is why, at Innovare Tx, Dr. Nathan V. Nguyen, MD is the treating physician on OWCP cases. See OWCP care for federal employees for how that works here.
Changing physicians after your first choice
The rule is in 20 CFR 10.316:
- A referral is not a change. When the physician you chose refers you to a specialist for further care, you do not need to ask OWCP for approval.
- Any other change needs a written request. You send OWCP a written request that gives your reasons for wanting a different physician.
- OWCP decides. OWCP approves the request if it finds your reasons are sufficient. The rule names two kinds of request that are often approved: moving your care from a general practitioner to a physician who specializes in conditions like your work injury, and needing a new physician because you have moved.
- Your employer cannot approve it. A supervisor or agency injury-compensation office may not authorize a change of physicians. Only OWCP can.
How far OWCP expects you to travel
OWCP reimburses reasonable and necessary travel to authorized medical care. Generally, a round trip of up to 100 miles is considered reasonable. For non-emergency treatment, if the round trip will be more than 100 miles, or you will need air travel or an overnight stay, you must send OWCP a written request for prior authorization. Travel refunds are requested on Form OWCP-957 (20 CFR 10.315). Distance can matter when you ask to change physicians, so it is worth checking before you write your request.
What not to do
- Do not switch physicians on your own and then ask OWCP afterwards.
- Do not ask your supervisor to approve a change; they cannot.
- Do not let your care lapse while you wait. Talk to your current physician about your treatment until OWCP has decided.
- Do not book a new physician as your treating physician before OWCP has approved the change, unless your current physician has referred you there.
If you are thinking about Innovare Tx
Call us at (214) 233-3094 before you send OWCP anything. Tell us your situation and your claim number if you have one, and we will tell you whether we can take your case and what the next step is. If you are starting a new claim and have not chosen a physician yet, our OWCP page explains what to bring to a first visit, and our guide for federal employees covers the claim forms.
Next step · Decide
OWCP care for federal employees at Innovare Tx
Who treats you, what we document, what to bring and how billing works.
Can I change my OWCP doctor?
Yes, with OWCP's approval. After your first choice, you send OWCP a written request that gives your reasons, and OWCP approves it if it finds the reasons sufficient (20 CFR 10.316). A referral from your physician to a specialist does not need approval.
Can my employer approve a change of physician?
No. The rule says the employer may not authorize a change of physicians.
Can a physician assistant be my OWCP doctor?
FECA's definition of “physician” does not include physician assistants (5 U.S.C. §8101(2)). A PA may provide authorized services to the extent federal and state law allow (20 CFR 10.310(b)). At Innovare Tx, Dr. Nathan V. Nguyen, MD is the treating physician on OWCP cases.
