Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

I received the below letter from my employer.  Am I reading this wrong?  Sure looks to me like they want access to my entire medical history.  Is that something they should be allowed to have?  Shouldn't they be getting this information from the insurance company?  I am a little confused here and any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Deb

Medical Authorization

To any Physician, Clinic or Medical Care Provider, presently known or unknown to me, who may have acquired information concerning my physical condition, you are hereby authorized to provide (Name of Employer), (address of employer), or any of its representatives, information, facts and particulars, regarding my medical condition, diagnosis, treatment rendered, prognosis, estimates of disability to allow any physicians appointed by them to review all such reports, records and x-rays in possession.

I am willing that a copy of this authorization be accepted with the same authority as the original.  I understand that I (or a person authorized to act on my behalf) is entitled to receive a copy of this authorization form.  This information is to be used for purposes of evaluating my fitness for duty and handling my claim for injury or illness occurring on or about __/__/__ and for no other purpose, now or in the future.  This information expires on case closure.

_______________                Ã​‚ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ã​‚ Â Â Â Â Â ______________
Employee Signature                 ÂÂ​ Ã‚ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ÂÂ​ Ã‚ Â Date

It does sound like its an authorization for any and all treatment youve ever had, and not just for your work related injuries. I would speak to your attorney before signing this. I personally wouldnt sign it. My medical history as a teenager or young adult has nothing to do with my work related injury and theres a few things that I dont want out for public knowledge.

The forms I had to sign always had dates in it. For example... such and such is authorizing release of any and all medical records during the time period of _________ to _________ So i just put my DOI in to current.

deb.....shortly before my husband won his case he was sent a stack of these letters from his attorney. they went back to when he was 18 to determine and verify as to whether he had ever suffered a back injury in the past.


CAP

I dont mind them asking for any info on me ever having a neck or back injury I do not however see why they need to know how many yeast infections I have had.....so limit what they can seek

Hi all...I agree with Dallas...and there should be a start and stop date with what they can access. This would be like signing a check without an amount written in it. Good luck

I would send it to you attorney, and ask him what he thinks before I did a thing, it is way to open ended for me.

dallas are you saying that employer gets to see orhear of all medical infromation about your injuries from the I/c ? Like copies of reports ?

Dallas307 Wrote:This is standard but-your employer can get all this information from the IC. They are entitled to it. The way this is worded it is strictly for your injuriess/illness from you work related injury as of (THE DATE OF YOUR INJURY ON THIER JOB). I have never seen an authorization  stating (this information expires on case closure), That is  BS. I suggest if you and your employer have been working well through this process you call them and ask them why they are not getting the medical information from the WCIC. The only real purpose this would serve would be to evaluate your duties and limits  for accomdating you  or changing some duties of the job. Personally I would talk to the employer first. If I were to sign this I too would cross out "This information expires on case closure."  and put an end date. ---This information expires on 6-1-07 or whatever.
"The release is for and only for your worker related information and nothing else. Any other information attained by this release is subject to litigation of your (my) rights"--there is no medical closure in this state.

yes the employer has a right to all medical just as you do.