It's a disheartening scenario: you're in pain, you know something isn't right, but the WorkCover doctor has just told you there's nothing wrong. This can feel like a major setback, but it's important to know it's not the end of the road. There are steps you can take to dispute this finding and ensure your condition is accurately recognized and assessed.
Dispute and Seek a Second Opinion
Don't Accept It Blindly: Just because a doctor hired by WorkCover has given an opinion doesn't make it the definitive assessment of your injury. These doctors are not infallible and may not have the full picture of your condition.
Get Your Doctor to Dispute It: Your regular doctor knows your medical history and the specifics of your injury better. Have them review the WorkCover doctor's findings and provide a counter-assessment if they disagree.
Seek a Second Opinion: If necessary, consult another independent medical professional for a second opinion. A fresh perspective can sometimes make all the difference in understanding your condition.
Understanding the Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment
Knowledge is Power: One of the key moments in your WorkCover journey is the assessment for a degree of permanent impairment. To keep these assessments fair and consistent, doctors are required to use a prescribed format from the American Medical Association's "Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition." This 650+ page guide details exactly how the assessment should be carried out.
Why This Matters: If you don't know how the test is supposed to be conducted, you can't hold the doctor accountable for doing it correctly. Many workers don't understand the assessment process and therefore have no recourse when they're told nothing is wrong because they didn't understand how they were supposed to be assessed.
Holding the System Accountable
Preparation: If you know exactly how the assessment should be conducted and take note of any parts of the test the doctor skips or does incorrectly, you'll be in a stronger position to dispute the results. By law, if the process isn't followed correctly, you're entitled to be reassessed.
The Role of a Payment Expert: A payment expert can guide you through the GEPI guide and help you understand what to expect and what to watch out for in your assessment. Unlike lawyers, who have ethical and moral limitations and can't coach clients on what to say or do in a medical examination, a payment expert can simply inform you about the process.
The Risk of Not Knowing
Potential Misdiagnosis: If you go into the assessment without this knowledge, there's a risk the doctor might assess you at 0% impairment and declare nothing is wrong, even when you're struggling with daily activities.
Conclusion
If a WorkCover doctor says there's nothing wrong with you, but you feel differently, don't despair. Dispute it, seek second opinions, and arm yourself with knowledge about the assessment process. Understanding the intricacies of the Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and having a payment expert to guide you can make a significant difference in ensuring your condition is recognized and adequately compensated. Your health and well-being are too important to leave in the hands of a single assessment.