Why the medical side of an OWCP claim matters
OWCP decides federal injury claims on medical evidence. Your doctor’s reports have to explain what the injury is, how your work caused it, what treatment you need and what you can and can’t do at work. Thin or unsigned reports are among the most common reasons claims stall or are denied.
Our OWCP doctors in McAllen and Harlingen treat you and keep that evidence complete, current and signed by our physician.
How we support your OWCP injury claim, stage by stage
1. The first report
After a traumatic injury, you file a CA-1; for a condition that developed over time, a CA-2. Our exam documents how the injury happened at work in detail, the foundation OWCP needs to accept the claim. See the OWCP forms guide for which form fits.
2. Continuation of pay (COP)
For a traumatic injury, your agency can keep paying your salary for up to 45 days. We complete the CA-17 duty status report so your supervisor knows your restrictions, and update it as you improve.
3. Ongoing treatment and reports
While you recover, we send OWCP attending physician reports (CA-20) and narrative reports that explain your diagnosis, how it connects to your work, and your treatment plan, including physical therapy at our clinic.
4. Wage loss after COP
If you still can’t work when COP ends, you claim wage-loss compensation on Form CA-7. The claim needs current medical evidence of disability, which our physician provides.
5. Return to work
When you’re ready, we document your work capacity, such as on a work capacity evaluation (OWCP-5c), so your agency can offer light duty or a full return.
Development letters and denials
If OWCP sends you a letter asking for more information, it usually wants a specific medical explanation by a deadline. Bring it to us right away. If a claim is denied, the decision letter explains your appeal options. We’ll make sure the medical side of your file answers what OWCP asked.
Ready to start?
Call us or request a free consultation. Learn more about our federal workers’ compensation doctors or what it means to see DOL doctors who bill the Department of Labor directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is continuation of pay (COP)?
Continuation of pay keeps your regular salary coming from your agency for up to 45 days after a traumatic injury. To protect it, file a CA-1 within 30 days, and your time lost from work must begin within 45 days of the injury.
What happens when continuation of pay runs out?
If you still can't work, you can claim wage-loss compensation from OWCP on Form CA-7. Your claim will need current medical evidence showing why you can't work, which our physician provides.
OWCP sent me a letter asking for more medical information. What should I do?
Bring the letter to your next visit or call us. These development letters usually ask for a specific medical explanation, and they come with a deadline. We'll make sure your treating provider's report answers what OWCP asked.
Can a nurse practitioner or physician assistant handle my OWCP claim?
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can provide care, but OWCP gives weight to their reports only when a physician countersigns them. At Alivio, our physician reviews and signs every FECA medical report.
Medically reviewed by Peter Ruiz, MD, Medical Director. MD · Family Medicine · Texas Medical Board license N2270
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