1

Get started today

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today!

Fill out the form and someone from our team will contact you. 






    By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

    Free Consultation

    Florida Work Comp: What To Do About Collections

    by Oct 30, 20180 comments

    Florida Work Comp: What To Do About Collections

    Florida Work Injury Lawyers, Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt

    Florida Work Injury Lawyer

    We received a call from a frantic workers’ compensation client the other day. The client was receiving collection notices because the workers’ compensation carrier was not paying medical bills following a work related surgery.

    The role of workers’ compensation in Florida is to pay for medical care related to an industrial accident. It is not an injured worker’s duty to pay for medical care. You certainly shouldn’t have to worry that your credit will be lowered because work comp can’t do their job.

    Unfortunately, we see this a lot. It usually happens under three main situations.

    The first situation is when an injured worker receives a bill for a balance of medical services following partial payment by workers’ compensation. – Typically, when a doctor agrees to accept workers’ compensation patients, the doctor agrees to accept payment at a reduced rate based on what is called a “fee schedule” (for more information on fee schedules, contact a financial advisor). This is a reduced rate for medical services. This rate is typically well under the amount of money these medical providers normally charge. This fee schedule actually allows workers’ compensation insurance companies to spend less on medical services as compared to a private insurance policy or – Medicare or Medicaid. Though the doctor only gets paid a fraction of what they charge, they agree to accept this rate usually in the expectation that they will be sent many work comp patients.

    So back to the doctor who charged, say $1,000.00 for an office visit, but only gets paid $100.00 by the workers’ compensation carrier. What do they do? They should eat the loss as agreed to when they agreed to the workers’ compensation fee schedule. However, some medical providers will actually send the injured worker a bill requesting payment of the unpaid balance (this can be an accident, but more often it isn’t).

    The injured worker isn’t going to be able to pay the medical bill. They have been out of work for likely many months and the only income they receive is a check from workers’ compensation at a percentage of their pre-injury wages. Soon, the bill will be sent to collections and their credit will be ruined.

    As workers’ compensation attorneys, we know how to handle these situations. We can resolve these billing disputes before the medical bills make their way to the collection agencies. And if a medical provider provides a bill for payment of medical services knowing the workers’ compensation carrier is the responsible party, the billing provider may actually be liable for damages and owe the injured worker money.

    The second, and most common occurrence of injured workers receiving medical bills, is when medical providers do not know that the need for treatment was due to a workers’ compensation accident or injury. These providers typically include either first responders like ambulances, EMS services or trauma hawk flights or hospital departments that bill separately from the hospital itself.

    Many people think that when you go to a hospital you just get one big bill. But this is not correct. As work comp injury lawyers in Florida, we see examples where the emergency room may be advised that the patient is treating under work comp, but the Radiology department, the Pathology (blood work) department or the emergency room treating doctor may not know to bill work comp. All they have is the injured worker’s information, so that’s who they bill for their time or services.

    Our experienced work injury compensation lawyers are able to contact the medical providers and provide them with workers’ compensation’s billing information so that the proper parties are billed. This allows the injured worker to concentrate on getting better rather than stress out wondering how to pay for medical care or avoid collection notices.

    The third type of billing issue happens after a settlement has been reached. Many injured workers settle their case knowing that some of their medical services have not been paid for at the time of the settlement. The parties agree that the medical bills will be paid by the work comp carrier upon receipt. However, there are many times when these bills are not paid. If they never get paid, and if the injured worker continues to receive bills for these services, your Florida workers’ compensation attorney can file a Motion to Enforce the settlement agreement and get the bill paid regardless of how long it has been after the settlement has been finalized.

    There is absolutely no excuse for improper billing when the medical providers have the correct information. We make sure that the billing provider has the injured worker’s workers’ compensation information and advise the work comp adjuster of the need for payment. If, after these steps are made, the bills or collection notices continue we can proceed with a claim in work comp, refer the issue to the Agency for Health Care Administration or file a claim directly against the wrongful party.

    If you’ve been involved in an accident at work, contact our Florida Work Injury Lawyers today.

    Palm Beach car accident lawyer

    We have offices in Florida, Georgia and Illinois. It is not only important to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer when you have been hurt on the job, it is also the best way to make sure that you receive proper medical services and lost wages you are entitled to under the law. After all, the Workers’ Compensation law was created to protect you – the employee.

    See what Our Clients Have To Say

    Florida’s Most Trusted Workers’ Comp Attorneys

    Devin Major
    Devin Major
    August 9, 2022.
    Best team I had ever working for me I really hope anybody who needs legal advise call them
    Gregory Diggs
    Gregory Diggs
    August 4, 2022.
    I recommend this law firm to anyone with a worker's compensation case. The staff does a great job and they treat you like family. Judd Koenig was my attorney and went the extra mile and then some more securing my a nice settlement of my case.
    Cynthia Murray
    Cynthia Murray
    August 3, 2022.
    Great Attorney thank you Eric Lakind and staff Attentive, friendly, answered ever questions got results when I could not do it myself Cynthia
    Naisha Dorvilus
    Naisha Dorvilus
    August 2, 2022.
    Lisa was my lawyer she asked me questions and was very helpful. She and her team communicated with me about my cause and I'm super happy with her service.i will definitely recommend her and her company
    Jaime Ieli
    Jaime Ieli
    July 29, 2022.
    My husband was hurt and never dealt with an attorney before. He looked up attorneys online & thru the grace of God got Lissa Dorsey as his attorney & she was truly amazing! She was very involved, always returned our phone calls & made the whole process as easy for us as she possibly could while my husband treated with Dr's and started his healing process. I would recommend her to any & everyone without a doubt.
    Evelin Hernandez
    Evelin Hernandez
    July 21, 2022.
    Best law firm in Palm Beach County, Lisa and Kim were the best. I recommend this law firm to everyone.
    Tammy Dault
    Tammy Dault
    July 20, 2022.
    Wasn't sure how it would work with me being in one town and lawyer in another but it all worked out in the end thank you for all your hard work.
    Brandon moore
    Brandon moore
    July 19, 2022.
    Great understanding lawyers! They were great in getting me a fair settlement and quick to respond to any questions I had. Thanks Kim and Lisa!
    john heller
    john heller
    July 12, 2022.
    They were always responsive to my calls did an excellent job of getting everything I needed. When it came time To settle my case Andy and J did an excellent job I’m very happy with the outcome and very happy with this law firm I would highly recommend them!!!!