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<< Back to "Federal Workers Comp-OWCP Topic" index The importance of your own doctor for your OWCP claimThe following is the best general advice I can give. To be on the ready for an adverse action by OWCP, maintain a relationship with a who treats your accepted condition and who could write a report if needed. For example, your doctor can weigh in on whether vocational rehabilitation is feasible or a job offer is appropriate. Notices of proposed termination of compensation are often the result of second-opinion medical evaluations that were ordered by the claims examiner. This is where your own doctor can help. A treating doctor’s differing opinion can effectively question the second-opinion doctor’s conclusions. If there is a medical conflict, OWCP will most likely arrange for a referee evaluation to resolve the conflict. Second opinion medical reports are often attached to notices of proposed termination. Show the report to your treating doctor. Be sure your doctor has examined you somewhat recently. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen your doctor, consider making an appointment if you receive word from OWCP about a second-opinion evaluation. Finding doctors who are willing to treat federal workers’ compensation patients is getting harder. I’ll address that in September. July 2009 << Back to "Federal Workers Comp-OWCP Topic" index 
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