After years of hauling freight from Cleveland to Cincinnati and everywhere in between, your neck and back have paid the price. Your body is worn down from coupling trailers, lifting heavy loads, and long hours behind the wheel. Your primary care doctor recommended chiropractic treatment, but wasn’t sure about the details of workers’ comp coverage. 
Does this mean you’ll be stuck paying out-of-pocket because you’re not sure how to prove that these health problems were caused by your job?
Truck drivers are among the professionals who experience repetitive strain and chronic pain that interfere with their ability to work and live life comfortably. In fact, overexertion injuries are among the most common—and most costly—medical problems employees face.
Table of Contents
But can you get chiropractic care by filing a workers’ comp claim? It depends on several factors. Understanding Ohio's rules can help you get the treatment you need without the financial stress. Monast Law Office helps injured workers secure the medical treatment they deserve, including chiropractic care when it's medically appropriate for their work-related condition.
Key Takeaways:
- Work-related neck, back, and musculoskeletal injuries often require chiropractic care to relieve pain and restore function.
- Ohio workers’ comp may cover chiropractic treatment, but approval depends on proper reporting and medical support.
- Monast Law Office can help by handling documentation, communicating with the BWC, and challenging denials.
Does Workers' Comp Cover Chiropractic Treatment?
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) will cover chiropractic care when it meets specific requirements. Your claim must be approved for the condition requiring treatment, and a health care provider must determine that chiropractic care is medically necessary for your work-related injury.
Chiropractic treatment is typically approved for musculoskeletal injuries such as back pain, neck injuries, and soft-tissue damage—common workplace injuries from lifting, repetitive motion, or accidents. The BWC recognizes chiropractors as legitimate health care providers who can serve as your physician of record: this means they can manage your entire workers' comp case if appropriate.
Having a chiropractor as your physician of record works well when your primary injury involves the spine or musculoskeletal system. They can coordinate your treatment, communicate with the BWC, and help you return to work safely. If your injury requires care beyond chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor can refer you to other specialists while remaining your primary physician, if needed.
How Can You Get Chiropractic Care Approved?
Start by promptly reporting your injury and filing your workers' compensation claim. Once your claim is approved for your specific injury, you can request chiropractic treatment. Your employer's managed care organization (MCO) or the BWC will determine whether the treatment is medically necessary.
In many cases, you'll need a referral or recommendation from your treating physician. Some injuries receive presumptive prior approval from the BWC, meaning certain treatments—including chiropractic care for approved conditions—can begin without waiting for individual authorization. You can check the BWC's list of services with presumptive prior approval to see if your treatment qualifies.
Here's what makes approval more likely:
- Medical documentation. Clear records showing that your injury requires chiropractic intervention to strengthen your case for coverage.
- Treatment plan. A chiropractor who outlines specific goals and expected outcomes demonstrates medical necessity.
- Provider certification. Working with BWC-certified chiropractors familiar with workers' comp procedures streamlines the approval process.
You’re usually allowed up to 12 physical medical visits per claim within 60 days of your reported workplace injury.
What Happens If Your Request for Chiropractic Care Workers' Comp Coverage Is Denied?
It's not the end of the road. Columbus workers' comp lawyer Jim Monast regularly helps employees across Ohio challenge denials and secure coverage for necessary chiropractic treatment. Common reasons for denial include, but aren’t limited to:
- Insufficient medical documentation
- Questions about whether the injury is work-related
- Disputes over medical necessity
You have the right to appeal a denial through the BWC's process. As an attorney with 40 years of experience in Ohio workers' compensation cases, Jim and his team gather additional medical evidence, communicate with your healthcare providers, and present a stronger case for coverage. Many denials are overturned when workers have proper legal representation and comprehensive medical support.
Whether you're seeking initial approval for chiropractic care or appealing a denial, having dedicated legal guidance makes the process clearer and less stressful. Your focus should be on healing, not fighting with administrators over the necessary treatment you’ve earned to ease pain and do your job well.
