New provider types, if authorized, canbegin treating injured workers on Jan. 1, 2020. (Credit:Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)

As part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2019-2020 budget, a new lawwas passed expanding the types of medical providers that can beauthorized to treat injured workers in the New York State workers'compensation system.

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, licensed clinical social workers, nursepractitioners and acupuncturists, as well as current ancillaryproviders, including physician assistants, occupational therapistsand physical therapists may apply to become a Board-authorizedprovider. Prior to this law taking effect, only physicians,chiropractors, podiatrists and psychologists were able to beauthorized to treat injured workers. Nurse practitioners, physicianassistants, occupational therapists and physical therapists couldtreat injured workers, but only under the personal supervision of aBoard-authorized provider.

The law is designed to modernize and improve the workers'compensation health care options available to injured workers. Itis expected to bring thousands of new providers into the New YorkState workers' compensation system.

Information on authorization

New provider types, if authorized, can begin treating injuredworkers on Jan. 1, 2020. Ancillary providers who currently treatmust become authorized (or have an authorization applicationpending with the Board) to continue treating after Jan. 1,2020.

New providers applying to become Board authorized need to:

1. Sign up to use the Medical Portal at this link;
2. Complete the required training courses — training must becompleted before the application must be submitted;
3. Fill out the New Provider Authorization Request onlineapplication, accessible on the Medical Portal, and submit it to theBoard; and
4. Physician assistants must have their Board authorizedsupervising physician sign the Supervising Physician Affirmation form andattach the signed form to their application.

New and existing authorized providers will be expected tore-register with the Board every two to three years, consistentwith the renewal of their New York State license.

Injured workers interested in finding an authorized andregistered health care provider or independent medical examinercan refer to this link.

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