How will my medical expenses be paid while I am receiving treatment for an injury that occurred at work?

Under the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, if an employee suffers an injury at work, the employer must pay for all medical treatment received for the injury. However, the employer can select the physician who will treat the employee. A physician who is chosen by the employer to treat a work-related injury is referred to as an authorized doctor.

If the employee is not treated by an authorized doctor, the employee may have to pay all medical expenses that result from the work-related injury. After treatment with an authorized doctor, at some point, the employee will receive a release from the doctor to return to work. Under the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, such a release can take place only if the employee has attained a maximum medical benefit. This means that the employee may still feel pain and other symptoms, but will not realize any improvement from more treatment.