Insurance companies don't like to pay for “palliative care”.
“Palliative care” is defined as “medical care or treatment rendered to reduce or moderate temporarily the intensity of pain caused by an otherwise stable medical condition, but does not include those medical services rendered to diagnose, heal, or permanently alleviate or eliminate a medical condition. AS 23.30.395(29).
In other words, palliative care isn’t going to fix you but it will help you deal with your pain. The most common types of palliative care are chiropractic treatment and chronic pain medication.
The Employer is obligated to pay for palliative care even after medically stability (not going to get better) under the following conditions:
- To enable the employee to continue in the employee’s employment at the time of treatment,
- to enable the employee to continue to participate in an approved reemployment plan, or
- to relieve chronic debilitating pain.
AS 23.30.095(o).
In order to receive palliative care, you doctor must certify that the care meets on of those three requirements.
If your benefits have been controverted, you need to speak with an attorney.
Keenan Powell has practiced Workers Compensation law in the State of Alaska for over 30 years and has dedicated her practice to Workers Compensation representing injured Alaskans handling hundreds of cases. www.keenanpowell.com.
All consultations are free. To make an appointment, use the contact form on this website or call: 907 258 7663.
