Why do doctors allow insurance adjuster's to practice medicine?

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

A: Under Iowa law the insurance adjusters have no authority to dictate care and treatment decisions to the doctors. Doctors have the Iowa medical licenses and are the only one's in an Iowa workers' compensation case that can make medical decisions about their patients, the injured worker. Insurance adjusters will tell the doctor and the injured worker they are not going to authorize care and treatment. What doctors need to realize is it is they who get to say what care and treatment is required to cure or treat the patients work related medical condition. If confronted with an adjuster refusing authorization the doctor needs to telephone the injured worker's lawyer, provide the lawyer with a brief letter outlining the diagnosis, treatment needed and relating it all to the work injury. The lawyer can then file what's called an 85.39 Petition for Alternate Medical Care under Iowa Code Chapter 85.

You see choosing the care doesn't mean the insurance adjuster get's to practice medicine by micromanaging the medical decisions. Choosing the care means they get to choose the doctor that treats the patient and if they abuse that privilege the law allows us to take the care decisions away from them. After all what education level do most adjusters have? Perhaps they maybe have a bachelor's degree. That and a bad attitude will get you a job with any insurance company's workers' compensation claim's department.

Iowa Workers' Compensation

After a worker is injured is when they need the support of their employer the most. But injured workers aren't given a level playing field. The company doctor often times is not helping them and the case manager isn't either. The worker is left alone to fend for themselves and to make mistakes that result in lower benefits or fewer weeks of benefits. Some are sent back to work too soon. There is only one person on your side and that understands this system. If your lawyer doesn't understand the nature of this claim you've got the wrong lawyer. Steve Lombardi has practiced in the area of workers compensation for over 30 years. He's tried hundreds of cases for more than one thousand clients. If you'd like help finding a competent lawyer we do assist people in locating a lawyer in Iowa or in Illinois. Call us.

If you have a question about your case, give us a call or drop us an email. LOMBARDI LAW FIRM - 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com. If you or your spouse are involved in a work accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney