Yes. If your claim is still open, you receive medical benefits even if you are working.

Workers compensation cannot pay for:

• Medical conditions not related to your workplace injury or illness.
• Treatments with benefits that cannot be measured objectively by a doctor or that continue after the worker is medically stable.
• Treatments not covered by workers comp, such as acupuncture.

Many injuries are treated and healed before the paperwork reaches L&I. In these cases, we may issue a single decision both authorizing medical expenses and legally closing the claim. This saves time and paperwork for everyone.

If you need treatment within 60 days after your claim was closed, you or your doctor may protest the closure of your claim.

After more than 60 days from claim closure, you and your doctor may apply to have your claim reopened so that your medical bills can be paid, as long it is for the same workplace injury.

If your claim was closed, you and your doctor may protest with in 60 days. Later than that, you and your doctor may apply to have it reopened so that your medical bills can be paid, as long it is for the same workplace injury.

Also, your doctor may refer you to a specialist (such as a surgeon or an orthopedic specialist).

Depending on your injury, you may have difficulty returning to work right away. Your claim manager may assign you to a vocational counselor to help develop a solution involving you, your employer and your doctor. Read more about Vocational Services.

• Your rights, benefits, and responsibilities for your claim will remain the same. Washington laws will always apply to your claim regardless of where you live.
• Many doctors and health-care providers in other states don't accept workers' compensation cases. Find a Doctor in your area.
• If you're thinking of moving out of Washington, learn what you can do to communicate with L&I and find new care.

You may change doctors as long as the new doctor is qualified to treat your accepted injury or illness. Your request to tranfer to a new doctor is subject to approval by your claim manager.

You must notify L&I or your self-insured employer in writing of your new doctor's name, address, and phone number.

Many doctors and providers don't accept workers' compensation cases. Find a Doctor in your area.

• Use the L&I search at Find A Doctor.
• If you are unable to find a provider, talk to your claim manager. The claim manager may assign a Nurse Case Manager to help you find a doctor.
• Nurse Case Managers are privately employed individuals in your geographic area who receive referrals from L&I.
• The Nurse Case Manager doesn't direct you to specific providers but will help you find needed health care resources.
• The Nurse Case Manager can help your health care provider understand what is needed by L&I.