Can My Employer Require Me To Use a Specific Doctor for Colorado Workers’ Comp?

 Posted on February 28, 2026 in Workers' Compensation

Your employer can require you to use a specific doctor for a workers’ compensation claim, but only up to a point. In Colorado, your employer has the right to give you a list of approved doctors to choose from after a workplace injury. What they can't do is hand you one name and tell you that's your only option. They also can't force you to see a doctor who works against your interests.

If you've been hurt on the job in 2026 and are dealing with a difficult employer, our Larimer County, CO workers' compensation lawyer can help you understand your rights from day one.

What Is a Designated Provider List in Colorado Workers' Comp?

When you report a workplace injury, your employer is required to give you a list of approved doctors to choose from. This is called a designated provider list. Under C.R.S. § 8-43-404, your employer must offer you a list of at least four physicians or medical providers. At least one of those providers must be at a different location and under separate ownership from the others.

The keyword here is choose. Your employer picks the list, but you pick the doctor from that list. Your employer cannot hand you a single name and tell you that's who you have to see. If they fail to give you a proper list, the law allows you to choose any doctor you want.

What Happens if Your Employer Doesn't Give You a Proper Doctor List for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

If your employer doesn't follow the rules for the designated provider list, you gain more freedom to pick your own doctor. Under Colorado's Division of Workers' Compensation guidelines, if no doctor is properly designated, you can select the health care provider of your choice. Employers sometimes skip this step or do it incorrectly, which can give injured workers more control over their care than they might expect.

If you weren't given a written list with proper options and you've already started seeing a doctor on your own, it's worth talking to an attorney about whether your employer's failure to comply affects your claim.

Can You Change Doctors After a Colorado Workers' Comp Claim Starts?

You can change doctors once when being treated under a workers’ comp claim. To use this option, you must:

• Make the request within 90 days of your injury.
• Submit the request in writing on the Division's official form, the WC3 Notice of One-Time Change of Physician.
• Make the change before you reach maximum medical improvement, which is the point at which your doctor says your condition has stabilized.

The new doctor you choose must still come from the designated provider list.

What Are Your Rights to Medical Care Under Colorado Workers' Comp Law?

Under C.R.S. § 8-42-101, your employer is required to provide medical care that is reasonably needed to treat your work-related injury. That includes doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and any other treatment your authorized treating physician orders. Your employer or their insurance company pays for this care. You should not be paying out of pocket for treatment tied to a work injury.

If your employer or their insurer is refusing to approve treatment your doctor has recommended, that decision can be challenged through the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation.

What Common Mistakes Do Injured Workers Make Regarding a Workers' Comp Doctor?

How you handle the doctor selection process can affect your entire claim. Common mistakes include:

• Seeing a doctor outside the designated provider list without first confirming you have the right to do so
• Using your one-time physician change too quickly, before you know whether a better option is available
• Not writing down everything your doctor says about your restrictions and ability to work
• Assuming the employer's doctor is looking out for your health rather than the employer's costs
• Waiting too long to raise concerns about your medical care, which can limit your options later

If the care you're receiving doesn't seem to reflect how your injury has actually affected you, that's worth addressing as early as possible.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Fort Collins, CO Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Understanding your rights around medical care is one of the most important parts of a workers' comp claim. At Hoggatt Law Office, P.C., we are here to make sure you get the care and benefits you're owed. Attorney Hoggatt is a member of both the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Workers' Compensation Education Association, reflecting a serious commitment to staying current on the laws that protect injured workers.

Call 970-225-2190 to schedule a free consultation with our Larimer County, CO workers' compensation lawyer today. 

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