Proposed Indiana Legislation Allows Employees to Choose Their Own Physician

By: Kirsten Kaiser Kus

A new Indiana bill would allow employees to choose their own physician to treat any workplace injury or occupational disease. HB1339 allows employees to choose their attending physician regardless of their date of injury and would further require employers or their insurers to reimburse the chosen health care provider. 

If the employee is unable to choose a physician due to the nature of the injury or the injury requires immediate treatment, the employer should select an attending physician. The attending physician shall consult with the employee’s personal physician when medically necessary or advisable, or at the employee’s request.

Current workers’ compensation law allows employers to choose a physician for an employee’s work-related injury, with limited exceptions. 

If signed into law, HB1339 would go into effect 7/1/21. 
 
We are monitoring closely and will keep you posted on further developments. For questions, please contact us.