In California workers compensation, how is medical treatment typically initiated post-injury?

In California workers' compensation, medical treatment following an injury is typically initiated through an employer-directed network. This approach is designed to manage and control the medical care that injured workers receive while ensuring they have access to appropriate treatments. When an employee is injured on the job, the employer often has a network of medical providers in place—known as a Medical Provider Network (MPN)—that guides the injured worker to receive treatment from designated healthcare providers.

The employer's choice to implement a directed network helps streamline the referral process, sometimes resulting in faster treatment and reducing costs associated with workers’ comp claims. It also allows for oversight in treatment standards and helps ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

While patients may have some choice, in California's workers' compensation system, the use of an employer-directed network is the standard practice for initiating medical treatment, making it the correct answer to this question. Other options, such as mandatory arbitration or assessments by legal counsel, are not the primary mechanisms for initiating medical treatment post-injury.