Federal Workers’ Compensation Frequently Asked Questions

When you first get hurt you are involved in an adjudication process with the OWCP. You must prove your case. You can not rely on your agency or just your union to help. The OWCP requires specific, factual and MEDICAL EVIDENCE before they will accept your claim: a doctor's report that gives a diagnosis and explains how your work caused or aggravated it.

Yes, with OWCP's approval. You choose your first treating physician, and you can ask OWCP in writing to change to another OWCP physician who is enrolled and willing to work with federal work comp. Changing doctors is not a penalty, but OWCP must authorize the change before the new doctor's bills are paid.

If you had an accident or an event at work that caused an injury, you should file form CA-1 immediately. If your injury occurred over a longer period of time (greater than one (1) work day) then you should file form (CA-2) for an occupational disease. This can sometimes be confusing and proper medical support and legal advice is vital.

If you filed a CA-1 (traumatic injury claim) within 30 days of your injury, you are entitled to up to 45 calendar days of continuation of pay (COP) if you provide medical evidence for your absence because of your work injury. If you file form CA-2 (occupational disease claim) you must file form CA-7 for each period of lost pay (often every two weeks) to get paid. Remember that wage-loss compensation is not paid until your claim is approved.

Yes. Use OWCP form 957 for medical travel reimbursement (mileage to and from appointments) and OWCP form 915 for other out of pocket medical expenses related to your accepted injury.

A DOL doctor is a physician or other provider enrolled with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) to treat federal employees injured on the job and bill DOL directly under FECA. "DOL doctor" and "OWCP doctor" mean the same thing. The Department of Labor does not certify doctors; providers enroll with OWCP.

Federal Injury Centers has DOL doctors at four Alabama clinics: Birmingham (Bessemer), Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile. Call (205) 425-5428 or request an appointment. You can also search OWCP's enrolled providers at owcpconnect.dol.gov.

Yes. FECA lets you choose your initial treating physician, as long as the provider is qualified and willing to treat under OWCP rules. If your agency gives you a CA-16, you can take it to the doctor you choose. Later changes need OWCP's written approval.

No referral is needed for your first visit with your chosen treating physician. Referrals to specialists, physical therapy, imaging or surgery are made by your treating physician, and some need OWCP authorization first, which our team requests for you.

Every patient starts with an initial examination by Dr. Robert Agee, MD, the treating physician, who writes a detailed narrative medical report and prescribes treatment. Dr. Donovan Harper, DC, the clinic owner, and our physical therapy team provide care under Dr. Agee's direction.

Yes, within limits. Under FECA, chiropractic care is covered for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown on X-ray. Other treatment, like physical therapy, is prescribed by the treating physician. Our team keeps your care inside these rules so bills are paid.

A narrative report is the doctor's written explanation that ties your diagnosis to your work. It includes your injury history, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, treatment plan and a reasoned medical opinion on causation. It is often the single most important piece of medical evidence OWCP reviews.

OWCP is the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, part of the U.S. Department of Labor. Its Division of Federal Employees' Compensation administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), which pays medical care and wage-loss benefits to federal civilian employees injured on the job.

FECA covers civilian employees of the federal government, including U.S. Postal Service letter carriers and clerks, VA staff, TSA officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, civilian employees of the military, FBI and other agency employees. Active-duty service members are covered by other programs.

File as soon as possible. A CA-1 must be filed within 30 days of a traumatic injury to qualify for continuation of pay, and any FECA claim must generally be filed within three years of the injury, or of when you realized an illness was work-related.

Report the injury to your supervisor, then file a CA-1 (traumatic injury) or CA-2 (occupational disease) through your agency, usually in DOL's online ECOMP system at ecomp.dol.gov. Then see a doctor who can document how work caused your injury. See our OWCP claims assistance page.

Most denials come down to evidence. Common reasons are a missing or weak medical opinion on causation, a diagnosis that is not clearly stated, filing the wrong form, missed deadlines or gaps between the injury and treatment. A clear narrative report from your doctor fixes the most common problem.

You can request reconsideration with new evidence, ask for an oral hearing or review of the written record with OWCP's Branch of Hearings and Review, or appeal to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board. Deadlines are short, so act quickly and get updated medical evidence.

Your agency processes the paperwork, but the claim is yours to prove. OWCP decides based on the facts and the medical evidence, so you need a doctor who understands what OWCP requires and documents it correctly.

A nurse case manager is a registered nurse assigned by OWCP on some claims to coordinate your care and help you return to work. They talk with you, your doctor and your agency. Your treating doctor still makes the medical decisions.

The CA-1 is the Federal Employee's Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation. Use it for an injury caused by a single event or one work shift, such as a fall or lifting injury. See our CA-1 guide.

The CA-2 is the Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation. Use it for a condition caused by work over more than one shift, such as carpal tunnel, repetitive back or shoulder strain, or hearing loss. See our CA-2 guide.

Time. A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury that happened during one work shift; a CA-2 is for an occupational disease that developed over more than one shift. Only CA-1 claims filed within 30 days qualify for up to 45 days of continuation of pay.

The CA-2a is the Notice of Recurrence. Use it when a previously accepted injury flares up again without a new injury, causing you to stop work or need more treatment.

The CA-7 is the Claim for Compensation. You file it through your agency to be paid for lost wages after continuation of pay ends, for leave buy-back, or for a schedule award for permanent impairment.

The CA-16 is the Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment. Your agency can issue it after a traumatic injury so you can get treated right away while the claim is reviewed. It is generally valid for up to 60 days.

They are filled out by your doctor. The CA-17 is the Duty Status Report listing your work restrictions; the CA-20 is the Attending Physician's Report with diagnosis and causation. Our doctors complete both.

Use form OWCP-957, the Medical Travel Refund Request, to be paid for mileage and travel to medical appointments for your accepted injury. You can download the form here.

No out-of-pocket expenses for covered care. All services are billed to the U.S. Department of Labor in compliance with FECA. If you have questions about a bill or an unaccepted claim, our team will explain your options before treatment.

Wage-loss compensation is generally two-thirds (66⅔%) of your pay if you have no dependents, or three-quarters (75%) if you have one or more dependents. It is tax-free. Medical care for the accepted condition is paid in full by OWCP.

COP is your regular pay, continued by your agency for up to 45 calendar days after a traumatic injury, if you file a CA-1 within 30 days and have medical evidence of disability. It is not available for CA-2 occupational disease claims.

A schedule award is a payment for permanent loss or loss of use of certain body parts, such as an arm, leg, hand or hearing, after you reach maximum medical improvement. Your doctor rates the impairment using the AMA Guides, and you claim it on a CA-7.

Yes. If your doctor releases you with restrictions, your agency may offer limited duty that fits them. Your doctor's CA-17 duty status report sets those restrictions, so make sure they are accurate.

Federal Injury Centers provides complimentary consultations, often the same day we receive your appointment request. Request an appointment or call the clinic nearest you.

Bring a photo ID, your CA-16 if your agency issued one, your OWCP claim number if you have it, copies of any CA-1, CA-2 or CA-7 you filed, prior medical records or imaging, and your supervisor's contact information. Read more in what to bring to your first OWCP clinic visit.

Birmingham: 650 9th Ave SW Suite #104, Bessemer, AL 35022, (205) 425-5428. Montgomery: 5923 Monticello Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117, (334) 593-6263. Huntsville: 1878 Jeff Road North West, Huntsville, AL 35806, (256) 945-7405. Mobile: 3431 Cottage Hill Rd., Mobile, AL 36609, (251) 333-1243.

No. Federal Injury Centers is an independent, private medical practice. Neither OWCPALABAMA.COM nor Federal Injury Centers is associated or affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor or OWCP. Our providers are enrolled with OWCP to treat and bill for federal injury care.