New provider types, if authorized, can begin treating injured workers on Jan. 1, 2020. (Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)
As part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2019-2020 budget, a new law was passed expanding the types of medical providers that can be authorized to treat injured workers in the New York State workers' compensation system.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, licensed clinical social workers, nurse practitioners and acupuncturists, as well as current ancillary providers, including physician assistants, occupational therapists and physical therapists may apply to become a Board-authorized provider. Prior to this law taking effect, only physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists and psychologists were able to be authorized to treat injured workers. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, occupational therapists and physical therapists could treat injured workers, but only under the personal supervision of a Board-authorized provider.
The law is designed to modernize and improve the workers' compensation health care options available to injured workers. It is expected to bring thousands of new providers into the New York State workers' compensation system.
|Information on authorization
New provider types, if authorized, can begin treating injured workers on Jan. 1, 2020. Ancillary providers who currently treat must become authorized (or have an authorization application pending with the Board) to continue treating after Jan. 1, 2020.
New providers applying to become Board authorized need to:
- Sign up to use the Medical Portal at this link;
- Complete the required training courses — training must be completed before the application must be submitted;
- Fill out the New Provider Authorization Request online application, accessible on the Medical Portal, and submit it to the Board; and
- Physician assistants must have their Board authorized supervising physician sign the Supervising Physician Affirmation form and attach the signed form to their application.
New and existing authorized providers will be expected to re-register with the Board every two to three years, consistent with the renewal of their New York State license.
Injured workers interested in finding an authorized and registered health care provider or independent medical examiner can refer to this link.
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Denny Jacob
Denny Jacob is an associate editor for NU PropertyCasualty360. Contact him at [email protected].
