Yes. Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), injured federal employees have the legal right to choose their own treating physician (20 CFR 10.300(d)). Your agency must let you select any qualified physician — even if it first sends you to its own designated doctor. Your first choice matters, though: OWCP only pays the physician you chose first, and switching later requires written OWCP approval. That's why picking an OWCP-experienced clinic from day one protects both your health and your claim.
Your right to initial choice of physician
Federal regulation 20 CFR 10.300(d) requires your employing agency to advise you of your right to your initial choice of physician. You may select any qualified physician — in private practice, an HMO, or a federal facility. Even if your supervisor sends you to an agency-designated doctor right after the injury, you still keep the right to choose your own treating physician (confirmed on DOL.gov, "Basic Information on New Claims").
What "qualified physician" actually means under FECA:
- MDs and DOs — full treating-physician status.
- Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physical therapists — may provide authorized services under 20 CFR 10.310(b), but cannot serve as your attending physician of record.
- Chiropractors — recognized as physicians only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by X-ray (20 CFR 10.311).
- Clinical psychologists — only within the scope of state law (20 CFR 10.312).
Your treating physician's narrative reports drive everything — acceptance of your condition, wage-loss compensation, work restrictions (Form CA-17), and eventually your schedule award impairment rating. A doctor who doesn't know OWCP documentation requirements can sink an otherwise valid claim.
Form CA-16 — your first 60 days of guaranteed treatment
For a traumatic injury (one work event, one shift), your agency should issue Form CA-16 authorizing medical care with the physician you choose:
- The agency should issue CA-16 within 4 hours of the claimed injury; if verbal authorization was given first, the written CA-16 should follow within 48 hours (20 CFR 10.300(b)).
- It guarantees payment for non-surgical treatment for up to 60 calendar days from the date of injury — even if your claim is later denied, treatment before the denial date is covered.
- The agency is not required to issue a CA-16 more than one week after the injury, so ask for it immediately.
- CA-16 is not issued for occupational disease claims (Form CA-2) unless the agency gets prior OWCP permission.
The doctor named on your CA-16 can refer you to specialists, testing, or facilities, and OWCP pays those referral bills on the authority of the same CA-16 — no second form needed (20 CFR 10.301).
Referrals don't need OWCP approval — changing doctors does
Two very different situations, often confused:
Referrals (no approval needed): if your chosen physician refers you to a specialist for the work-related condition — orthopedics, pain management, physical therapy — OWCP honors that referral automatically (20 CFR 10.316(a)).
Changing your treating physician (approval required): to switch from your initial choice, you must send OWCP a written request stating your reasons plus the new physician's name, address, and specialty. Until OWCP approves, it only pays bills from the doctor you chose first. Requests OWCP commonly approves (20 CFR 10.316(b)):
- Transfer from a general practitioner to a specialist in your work-related condition.
- You moved and need a new local physician.
Only OWCP itself can approve a change of treating physician. Your employing agency, supervisor, or safety office has no authority to switch you — send the written request directly to your claims examiner through ECOMP.
What about physical therapy and other authorizations?
- Physical therapy is usually authorized for the first 120 days from the date of injury; beyond that, OWCP needs supporting medical evidence (DOL.gov).
- Non-emergency surgery requires advance OWCP approval — contact OWCP at least 30 days before the planned date.
- OWCP may also direct you to a second-opinion exam with a physician it selects (20 CFR 10.320). You must attend — refusing can suspend your compensation — but this never replaces your right to your own treating physician.
Choosing an OWCP doctor in Las Vegas
Because your first choice locks in until OWCP approves a change, choose a provider that:
- Knows OWCP/FECA documentation — causation narratives, CA-17 duty status reports, and schedule-award impairment ratings.
- Bills OWCP directly through the medical bill processing portal, so you're not paying out of pocket.
- Coordinates authorizations — PT extensions, diagnostics, and specialist referrals handled on your behalf, not left to you.
NuThera Injury Recovery & Wellness treats injured federal employees across the Las Vegas Valley — letter carriers, TSA officers, VA staff, and other federal workers — with OWCP-focused injury recovery, rehabilitation, and pain management at two locations:
- Las Vegas (Rainbow / Spring Valley): 5765 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 111, Las Vegas, NV 89118-2537
- North Las Vegas (Aliante): 3880 W Ann Rd #130, North Las Vegas, NV 89031
Exercise your right to choose an OWCP-experienced provider from day one. Call (725) 726-7914 or request an appointment online — we'll help you get treatment authorized and your documentation right from the first visit.
Keep exploring.
- Choosing an OWCP Doctor (topic page)
The pillar page on physician choice — what to look for in an OWCP-literate provider.
- Filing an OWCP Claim (CA-1 / CA-2)
How to file a traumatic-injury (CA-1) or occupational-disease (CA-2) claim step by step.
- Denied Claims & Appeals
What to do when OWCP denies your claim — reconsideration, hearings, and ECAB.
- OWCP Overview
Everything NuThera does for federal workers filing or managing OWCP claims.
- How to File a CA-1 Claim in Nevada
Step-by-step filing walkthrough, written for Nevada federal workers.
- OWCP Claim Denied? What to Do Next
The full reconsideration / appeal / ECAB path when a claim is wrongly denied.
Common questions.
Can my supervisor make me see the agency's doctor?
No. Your agency can offer its own physician first, but you always keep the right to choose your own treating physician under 20 CFR 10.300(d). An agency-required exam cannot interfere with your initial choice of physician.
How long does Form CA-16 cover my treatment?
Up to 60 calendar days of non-surgical treatment from the date of injury, unless OWCP terminates it sooner. Even if your claim is later denied, care received before the denial date remains covered.
Do I need OWCP approval to see a specialist?
No. If your treating physician refers you to a specialist for the work-related condition, OWCP honors the referral automatically (20 CFR 10.316(a)). Approval is only needed when you want to replace your treating physician.
How do I change my OWCP doctor?
Send OWCP a written request with your reasons and the new physician's name, address, and specialty. OWCP commonly approves transfers to a specialist or changes after a move. Until approved, OWCP only pays your original physician.
Can a chiropractor be my OWCP treating physician?
Only in a narrow case: treatment limited to manual spinal manipulation for a subluxation demonstrated by X-ray (20 CFR 10.311). For most work injuries, you will need an MD, DO, or a clinic with supervising physicians.
Does OWCP cover physical therapy?
Yes — typically authorized for the first 120 days after injury. Continued PT beyond that period requires additional medical justification, which your treating provider should submit with progress notes and objective measurements.