If you were hurt on the job in New York, the workers comp doctor you choose matters. New York has specific rules about who can treat you, which deadlines apply and what you pay. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of NY & CT (PMR) treats work injuries at our Brewster, NY office, with chiropractic care, physical therapy, physiatry and diagnostic testing in one practice.
This guide walks through New York workers’ compensation in plain language and explains how to start care with us. For a two-state overview, see workers’ comp injury care.
Choosing a workers comp doctor in New York
Except in emergencies, the provider who treats your work injury must be authorized by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB health care rules). Put simply, your workers comp doctor needs to be a WCB-authorized provider.
Within that rule, the choice is yours. You may choose any Board-authorized provider, though an employer that uses a preferred provider organization (PPO) can keep you in its network for 30 days (WCB PPO rules). After 30 days, you can leave the PPO by giving written notice.
The rules are set to change. Starting January 1, 2028, Universal Authorization lets any eligible licensed provider treat comp patients. Until then, the authorization requirement applies.
Steps to take after a work injury in New York
The deadlines below come from the Board’s injured workers toolkit.
- Get emergency care first if you need it. The authorization rule doesn’t apply to emergency care.
- Tell your employer in writing within 30 days. Keep a copy of what you send.
- File Form C-3 with the Board within 2 years. Keep a copy of your C-3 form, too.
- Choose a Board-authorized provider, or one in your employer’s PPO if it has one.
- Get a referral if you need physical therapy. The physical therapy section below explains who can write one.
- Bring your claim details to your first visit, using the checklist on this page.
What you pay on a New York workers’ compensation claim
You pay no copays for care on a New York comp claim (WCB health care rules). The comp insurance carrier pays the bills unless your claim is disallowed. The FAQ below explains what happens in that case.
At your first appointment, we go over your benefits and eligibility with you. Billing questions? Call (203) 744-8014.
Workers comp physical therapy in New York
Physical therapists can be Board-authorized too (WCB Expanded Provider Law). Even so, physical therapy on a New York comp claim needs a referral from a treating physician, physician assistant, podiatrist or nurse practitioner (WCB physical therapy rules).
Your care also follows the Board’s Medical Treatment Guidelines, the required standard of care for comp injuries. PMR’s clinicians plan your care within them.
At our Brewster office, therapy usually starts with an evaluation of your movement, strength and the physical demands of your job. Your plan may then include therapeutic exercise, hands-on care and gym-based training, with progress checks along the way. Learn more about physical therapy in Brewster, NY.
What to bring for a New York comp claim
- Your WCB case number, if you have one
- The carrier’s claim number, plus your adjuster’s name and phone number
- Contact details for your employer and your supervisor
- Copies of your written notice to your employer and your Form C-3, if you’ve filed them
- Your employer’s PPO information, if it uses one
- Your physical therapy referral, if you have one
- Photo ID
When to get urgent care
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you have:
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, or stroke signs such as a drooping face or slurred speech
- Sudden numbness in the groin, a leg that gives way, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels
- A serious injury, such as a deep wound, a bone that looks out of place or a blow to the head with confusion
You don’t need a Board-authorized provider for emergency care. Once you’re stable, a workers comp doctor can handle your follow-up care.
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor be my workers comp doctor in New York?
Yes. Chiropractors can be authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board to treat comp patients (WCB provider rules), so a Board-authorized chiropractor can be your treating provider. If you’re looking for a workers comp chiropractor in Brewster, NY, PMR’s chiropractors evaluate back, neck and joint injuries from work and explain your treatment options. Physical therapy still needs a referral from a physician, physician assistant, podiatrist or nurse practitioner.
Can my employer send me to its own doctor?
Not for treatment, in most cases. Employers can’t direct an injured worker’s medical care, with a few exceptions (WCB guidance for employers). The exceptions are an employer PPO, which can keep you in its network for 30 days, and networks for diagnostic tests and pharmacy services (WCB PPO rules). After the 30 days, you can leave a PPO with written notice and see another Board-authorized provider.
What happens if my claim is disallowed?
If your claim is disallowed, the comp carrier doesn’t pay for your care. If you signed Form A-9, you are then responsible for the bills (WCB health care rules). Ask PMR’s billing team about Form A-9 at your first visit, and call the billing office at (203) 744-8014 if the status of your claim changes.
What if I was hurt in a car accident, not at work?
Car accident injuries that happen outside of work go through New York’s no-fault system instead, which has its own forms, deadlines and billing rules. Our New York no-fault car accident care page explains how no-fault works and how to start care at our Brewster office.
Book a visit at PMR of Brewster, NY
PMR of Brewster, NY is at 1620 Brewster Town Center, Brewster, NY 10509. Call (845) 279-1135 or request an appointment online, and mention that your visit is for a work injury.
Employers and adjusters can find referral details on our employer and adjuster page.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy and claim; our billing team can help you check yours.