is the employer entitled to look medical records of their employee when injury sustained at work?

Friday, March 12, 2010
By WcrAdmin

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6 Responses to “is the employer entitled to look medical records of their employee when injury sustained at work?”

  1. The employer has very little say in any of the process once you are hurt at work, don’t let them scare you. The insurance company, however, does have access and will definately look. Of course if they find something that will get them off the hook, of course it will get back to your employer.

    #14323
  2. If your employer is paying your workers’ comp Yes When I had a company in the state I did all the investigation my self as the insurance don’t give a hoot

    #14324
  3. Depends on the state but in general a request to seek medical records with non-relevant information redacted is common in most states.

    #14325
  4. It depends on the state, but in most cases yes….only those regarding the injury as well as any drug or alcohol tests taken at the time…
    no prior records or those not pertaining to the injury, the workers comp insurance can look to see if there is something in prior records to let them off.

    #14326
  5. It depends on who is going to pay for your disability.

    If they are going to pay then they can, it makes no sense to pay with no proof of the injury, of course this is only limited to the work realted injury (he can’t ask for your complete medical history).

    #14327
  6. THis DOES NOT depend on state laws, this is a federal HIPAA rule,
    and WC is expressly expemt from HIPAA rules. Further, HIPAA only
    applies to qualifying providers, not the general public. ie, if
    your neighbor has knowledge of your medical issues, there is no law
    that prevents that person from divulging that information. The
    employer/carrier IS entitled to any and all of your medical
    records. They are ONLY liable for permenant/partial disability
    resulting from THIS injury. If there are prior industrial
    injury/illness, or even non industrial issues that could be found
    as contributing to your resulting impairment… that portion would
    be evaluated and a % determined to reduce the indemnity due under
    your PD rating. There should however be ONE person handling your
    claim, the CA/claim adjuster compiling your file, and the employer
    or your supervisor is not entitled to those records. The ONLY
    medical information your immediate supervisor/boss would be
    entitled to is that of any restrictions placed on you by your
    treating physician. Nothing more. No diagnosis, or treatment plan
    is necessary for your fellow workers. Even IF your employer is
    legally self insured and paying out of their pocket for your
    treatment/benefits, there would be only the one person, or dept,
    handling your claim, and that person/dept is the only party
    entitled to your medical records. Artman..Stacy, honmani2,.
    employer/carrier is entitled to ALL medical records, not just those
    related to the injury. LilMsD….aggreviation of a pre exsisting
    condition is often, and generally is compensable in a work injury.
    There are often times where the underlying condition must be
    treated first, at the liability of the employer/carrier, before the
    actual injury can be treated. Careful of your opinions folks…best
    to read the WC statutes of your state before offering “advice” on a
    message board. Most of what is posted here is not fully true.

    #14337

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