20 C.F.R. § 10.316
After selecting a treating physician, may an employee choose to be treated by another physician instead?
(a) When the physician originally selected to provide treatment for a work-related injury refers the employee to a specialist for further medical care, the employee need not consult OWCP for approval. In all other instances, however, the employee must submit a written request to OWCP with his or her reasons for desiring a change of physician.
(b) OWCP will approve the request if it determines that the reasons submitted are sufficient. Requests that are often approved include those for transfer of care from a general practitioner to a physician who specializes in treating conditions like the work-related one, or the need for a new physician when an employee has moved. The employer may not authorize a change of physicians.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1
case (1 in the last 5 years), 2026–2026 · leading case: Lonnie Turner v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs.
Lonnie Turner v. Dep't of Vets. Affairs (MSPB 2026). “PFR File, Tab 1 at 15; IAF, Tab 3 at 27; 20 C.F.R. § 10.316 (explaining that an injured employee generally must obtain OWCP’s approval to change his treating physician).”
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