Coverage for Medical Care and Rehab
Your employer must pick up the tab for medical treatment from a work-related injury, and also pay to retrain you for other work if you cannot return to the job you had.
The Law Offices of Peter Hansen in Portland has helped thousands of injured workers throughout west Oregon secure workers' compensation medical benefits and vocational rehabilitation. Contact us as soon as possible if you required medical attention for a job-related injury or illness.
Under Oregon workers' comp law, you are entitled to the following benefits:
- Medical care and treatment — Whether or not you missed time from work, your employer must pay your emergency room or clinic bills. Medical benefits also cover ongoing treatment, including physical therapy or chiropractic care, curative care (such as surgery), and subsequent treatment for flare-ups or new conditions stemming from the work injury for the rest of your life.
- Mileage reimbursement — The cost of driving to doctor appointments and rehab adds up. You can be reimbursed for medical travel at the same rate as state employees.
- Vocational rehabilitation — If you cannot do your old job or perform a new job that pays at least 80 percent of what you would be making had you not been hurt, the employer must pay for up to 18 months of retraining. This includes a thorough assessment by a vocational counselor to determine what work you could perform, costs of the program and biweekly disability payments while you are in the program.
Workers' compensation insurers commonly challenge medical benefits claims as unnecessary treatment or not work-related. They also fight vocational retraining benefits by arguing that the employee can still perform their old job. Attorney Peter O. Hansen has practiced in this field for 30 years. He can produce the documentation to uphold the claim or represent clients in the complex appeals process.
Call 503-821-7934 (Portland area) or 866-661-8679 (toll free) to arrange a free consultation, including evening or weekend appointments. We meet clients at three locations — downtown Portland, Gresham or Tillamook — and visit the seriously injured at home or in the hospital.
