The Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act (the “Act”) provides benefits to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. This is the second part of a two-part article on workers’ compensation benefits. Types of workers’ compensation benefits related to medical care, death, and specific loss or disfigurement of a body part include:
Medical Care
Pennsylvania employers must provide medical benefits for all treatment that is reasonable, necessary and related to a work-related injury or illness. Under the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act, employers have an obligation to advise workers of their rights and the corresponding duties of the employer. Employers must provide written a notice of these rights and duties at the time of injury or as soon after the injury as is practicable.
If covered under Pennsylvania law, and regardless of whether or not work is missed, persons that suffer some work-related illness or injury are entitled to payment of reasonable surgical and medical services rendered by a physician or other health care provider.
The Act covers the cost of hospital treatment and services, medication, medical supplies and devices including orthopedic implants are also covered. While an employer may not bill workers for the balance between a health care provider’s fee and the amount paid by the employer’s insurance carrier for medical treatment in Pennsylvania, workers that seek medical treatment outside Pennsylvania may be subject to the risk of balance billing by the medical provider.
Specific Loss Benefits
Workers that lose the permanent use of all or part of a finger, thumb, hand, arm, leg, foot, toe, sight, hearing or have a serious and permanent disfigurement of the head, face or neck, may be entitled to an award for their specific loss.
Benefits are calculated based on tables detailed in the Act. The award is not based on time lost from work post-injury. Injured workers may receive a specific loss award despite the fact that they have returned to work at their pre-injury wage rate.
Death Benefits
Death benefits may be available to a surviving spouse and other dependents for work-related injuries that result in death. These benefits include wage-loss benefits and funeral and burial expenses. Death benefits may be payable for fatal accidents and other work-related deaths resulting from occupational diseases and complications of a work-related injury.
For 110 years, Powell Law has litigated Pennsylvania workers compensation actions and obtained benefits for injured Pennsylvania workers. Powell Law’s decades of experience make it the clear choice for representation in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Consult an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney. Contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE!
