Injured employees who qualify for worker’s compensation in North Carolina and Virginia are entitled to payment for their medical expenses. In addition to payment for surgeries, doctor visits, physical therapy, and other medical care with health providers; employers are generally entitled to payment for any medical devices to improve their health.<\/p>\n
Medical devices are more commonly called durable medical equipment<\/strong>. Some durable medical equipment helps to improve an employee’s health. Durable medical equipment (DME) may help an employee do his\/her job. DME also helps injured employees function at home and while they are away from both home and work. Medical devices also include assistive devices for vehicles and the home \u2013 and medical supplies.<\/p>\n In North Carolina, the North Carolina Industrial Commission<\/a> has a schedule of acceptable charges for durable medical equipment. The employee should not have to pay these charges. The employer or the employer’s insurance company should pay for your durable medical equipment and any other medical devices.<\/p>\n Injured employees may need medical equipment for many injuries and illnesses including orthopedic injuries, cancer, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, heart diseases, and many other injuries and diseases.<\/p>\n Medical equipment includes:<\/p>\n The employer\/insurance company may be required to pay for the widening of hallways and doors so you can use a wheelchair in your home, as well as bedside lifts, adjustable beds, ramps, handrails, or any appliances prescribed by the treating physician. Again, in Virginia, as of 2022, like automobile modifications, the cost of such modifications on a home and vehicle together have an aggregate cap of $55,000.00. See<\/i> VA Code 65.2-603 (A)(1)(b)<\/a>.<\/p>\n An employer or insurance company will normally be required to pay for your medical equipment provided your doctor writes a written prescription or recommendation for the medical equipment.<\/p>\n An employer or the employer’s insurance company may contest your right to the DME or other medical devices on one or more of the following grounds:<\/p>\n In some workers’ compensation cases in North Carolina and Virginia, the employer may assign a Nurse Case Manager<\/strong><\/a> to your claim. The nurse case manager works for the employer or the employer’s insurance company and is interested in helping the employer and not you. The nurse case manager may monitor whether you are really using the durable medical equipment or assistive devices.<\/p>\n In some cases, the employer or the employer’s insurance carrier may request that you complete an Independent Medical Examination<\/strong> (IME)<\/a>. The IME is conducted by a physician other than your treating doctors and is picked by the Insurance Company. If the IME doctor says that you don’t need the DME anymore, the employer or the employer’s insurance company will request that the payment for the DME be terminated and you may have to head to a Hearing to get your medical device.<\/p>\n Most employees who have permanent injuries will need durable medical equipment for the rest of their lives. Employees who are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits are entitled to these benefits for as long as they improve the employee’s health or prevent the employee’s health from getting worse.<\/p>\n This means that the employer’s duty to pay for your durable medical equipment and other medical equipment may last for the rest of your life. If the durable medical equipment fails because it breaks down or for other reasons, you should be entitled to replacements. Many employees may need multiple crutches, wheelchairs, and other equipment during their lifetime.<\/p>\n Your need for durable medical equipment can affect the amount of your benefits. Once your medical condition reaches the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point when additional medical help is not likely to improve your health \u2013 an evaluation is made to determine if you have a permanent disability and the severity (impairment level) of that disability. The amount of permanent disability benefits you can claim depends on both factors \u2013 the type of disability and the impairment level of the disability.<\/p>\n Your impairment score can shift if medical equipment helps you function. It’s generally the custom that you receive compensation for the medical equipment you need (normally, the insurance company pays the supplier directly, according to the state workers’ compensation schedules) instead of being assigned a higher impairment rating (and thus a higher permanent disability paycheck). There are other considerations that our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers review \u2013 such as whether your employer can actually accommodate the medical equipment you need.<\/p>\n For example, suppose you need a wheelchair because you can’t walk due to paralysis or amputated legs:<\/p>\n At Joe Miller Law Ltd., our North Carolina and Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer fights for all the compensation you deserve including the smaller bills that can make a big difference in your recovery and ability to function. We’ve been fighting for injured workers for more than 30 years. To discuss your right to workers’ compensation benefits, call attorney Joe Miller, Esq., at 888-667-8295<\/strong> or use my online contact form<\/a> to schedule a free consultation.<\/p>\n We are currently using a remote service for clients who want to speak to us from the comfort and safety of their homes. To use our remote services, please see our New Electronic Case Review<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Injured employees who qualify for worker’s compensation in North Carolina and Virginia are entitled to payment for their medical expenses. In addition to payment for surgeries, doctor visits, physical therapy, and other medical care with health providers; employers are generally entitled to payment for any medical devices to improve their health. Medical devices are more … <\/p>\nWhat are the different types of medical equipment an employee might use?<\/h3>\n
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When might your employer contest your need for durable medical equipment?<\/h3>\n
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The long-term need for durable medical equipment and assistive devices<\/h3>\n
Medical equipment and returning to work<\/h3>\n
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Contact Joe Miller Law Ltd. to discuss your right to medical equipment for a work injury or illness<\/h3>\n