Future medical treatment is only considered when an injured worker has sustained permanent injuries from the work accident.
A doctor who has treated the injured worker will need to state very specifically the type of treatment required, period of time treatment will be needed, and cost of the future treatment. Then, the Board will consider these things in light of their effect on the injured worker’s impairment.
If the injured worker is awarded future treatment, it will be for the sole purpose of limiting of reducing his or her extent of impairment. This does not mean, however, that an injured worker who is left with any degree of impairment from his or her work injury will automatically be awarded future medical treatment by the Board.
Future medical treatment may also be awarded in occupational disease cases and in permanent total disability cases.