The past several decades have seen many changes in how employers handle workers’ compensation cases. Increasing numbers of Ohio companies rely on managed care organizations (MCOs) to help facilitate worker’s compensation claims.
Many states have implemented MCOs because of their potential to control costs and improve medical care delivery. As a paid employee in Ohio, it is essential for you to distinguish between the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) and MCOs. If you get injured or sick at work, it can help to understand how workers’ comp and managed care work together and what they mean for you.
Workers’ Compensation and Managed Care—What’s the Difference?
Workers’ compensation provides financial support to workers who have been hurt at work or during their employment. The BWC in Ohio is the state agency that oversees the workers’ compensation system. The BWC issues benefit payments and decides which claims to pay or deny.
An MCO is a private company that administers treatments and doctor visits. In Ohio and several other states, MCOs contract with state-funded employers to administer workers’ compensation claims.
If you file a workers’ comp claim in Ohio, it is important to know that MCOs—not the BWC–typically coordinate your medical care and make treatment decisions. Understanding the relationships between MCOs and employers makes it easy to see how these connections can sometimes lead to treatment denials, wasted time, and negative health outcomes for some injured employees.
Find a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Your Area
If the BWC has denied payment for your claim, you have the right to an appeal hearing in front of the Industrial Commission of Ohio. If you need to file a new claim, appeal a denial, or add amendments to an existing claim, consider getting help from an experienced workers’ comp attorney.
When researching legal representation in the Cincinnati area, it is essential to find a lawyer familiar with the issues involved in workers’ compensation and managed care. The workers’ comp attorneys at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co., understand how managed care affects workers’ comp cases. You can contact our office in Cincinnati by calling 513.721.6550 to learn more about worker’s compensation claims in Ohio. You can also schedule a free initial consultation to learn about your options.