WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKER'S COMPENSATION

The physicians and staff at the Florida Spine Institute understand that being injured at your place of employmnet can be an extremely stressful and frightening event for you and your family. This informative website will help explain some of the be basic protocols that you may see during your treatment with us here at the Florida Spine Institute. Throughout your treatment, various responsitiblities will be asked of you to ensure that your medical bills are billed and reimbursed properly. Following the advice of our physicians is imperative to ensure that you receive the best medical treatment. Not adhering to some of these guidelines can drastically affect how your insurance provider may cover your medical bills should you have any questions concerning information on this website, please do not hesitate to ask our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Florida Spine Institute Workers Compensation Guidelines

The following are some of the standard protocols that the Florida Spine Institute follows to help patients with their medical needs when it involves a Worker Comp Injury case.

Worker's Compensation Information - Your employer will provide you with the appropriate information for yor Work Comp carrier and a claim number wfor your accident. This must be submitted to us along with your insurance company's contact information.

Department of Labor - If your Work Comp carrier is the Department of Labor, you will need to obtain from the Department of Labor your "Acceptence Diagnosis Letter". You can ask our Work Comp staff more about this form. Without this form, you may have a difficult time having the Department of Labor cover your medical expenses.

Attorney Information - Some patients retain the services of personal attorneys to represent them in the event of an accident. If this happens to be the case, our practice needs the contact information of your attorney to ensure that all aspects of your case are handled properly during your treatment here at the Florida Spine Institute.

Medical Records / Medical Images - Please remember to  provide our practive with any or all medical records / images related to your injury that we are treating. This will provide us with a greater ability to provide you with the best medical treatment.

Health Insurance - It is extremely importantto provide our office with your health insurance information. If your PIP benefits have exhausted alternate plans must be made to cover your remaining medical expenses. Your member indentification number and other pertinentinformation must be on file to ensure that proper billing of your medical bills are completed. At times, not providing this information is a timely facshion, can leave the patient FULLY responsible for the entire medical expense.

Patient Financial Responsibility- Once your PIP insurance has exhausted, your medical health insurance company will be billed if applicable. After they have paid their portion, the remaining balance is the patient's responsibility regardless of who was at fault during the accident. If your attorney chooses, he/she may issue a letter of protection on your behalf.

Florida Spine Institute Patient Financing - To help assist our patients with the financial responsibility that may occur during this type of event, we provide patient financing. If you qualify, our program entitles you to serveral options including "Interest Free Financing" or "9.9% Financing." Ask about this great payment option called CareCredit.

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) - Is a treatment plateu in each person's healing process. It can mean that the patient has fully recoverd  from the injury or that the patient's medical condition has stabilized to the point that no major medical or emotional change can be expected in the injured workers' condition. 

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) - Is an injury that does not result in death or permanent disability, but that renders the injured person unable to perform regular duties or activities on one or moe full calendar days after the day of the injury.

Nurse Case Manager (NCM) - In case where a worker has injuries or personal circumstances that complicate the recovery process, the Nurse Case Manager will act as their advocate and advisor, assisting thier progress through a sometimes complex health care and benefits system. NCM's do not make diagnoses or treatment decisions, nor do they make judgements about your patient's eligibility for benefits. Their role is to coordinate and facilitate access to timely and appropriate health care services, and ensure continuity throughtout the recovery process.

Independent Medical Examiner (IME) - A physician or other healthcare provider not involved in the patients care performs medical evaluations (IME's) to provide information for case management and evidence in hearings and other legal proceeedings.