01/06/2026
State-level reforms are reshaping workers' compensation, with a growing number of jurisdictions expanding injured workers’ ability to choose their own treating physicians.
Recent measures in Indiana, Washington, and Colorado highlight the ongoing effort to recalibrate the balance between employee autonomy and employer or insurer medical control.
Greater choice can enhance satisfaction and engagement in recovery. However, it may also introduce higher costs, delays in treatment, and increased litigation risk when workers face an expansive provider landscape.
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Several states have taken steps toward letting injured workers choose their own doctors, a trend experts say can affect costs and outcomes as a key element of medical control shifts away from…