Choosing a doctor & getting treatment approved

You get to pick your own doctor in a New York workers' comp case — with one important condition — and most routine care is pre-approved so treatment isn't held up.

Key facts

You can choose any provider authorized by the Workers' Compensation Board (except in an emergency, or under a certified PPO for an initial period).
Care is fully covered — no copay, no deductible.
Medical Treatment Guidelines (MTGs) pre-approve standard care by body part, so most treatment needs no prior authorization.
Treatment outside the guidelines needs a Prior Authorization Request, filed through the Board's OnBoard system.

How treatment approval works

Within the guidelines: your authorized provider treats you without asking permission first — that's the point of the MTGs.
Outside the guidelines (a "variance"), or for certain drugs, tests, equipment, or surgery: the provider files a Prior Authorization Request (PAR) in OnBoard. If the carrier doesn't respond in time or unreasonably denies it, the Board can order the treatment.
The old paper forms (C-4AUTH, MG-2) are retired — it's all electronic now.
Find an authorized provider through the Board's Health Care Provider Search at wcb.ny.gov.

Emergencies are the exceptionIn a true emergency, get care from whoever is available — the authorized-provider rule doesn't block emergency treatment. Switch to a Board-authorized provider for follow-up care.

Sources for this page