Physical Therapy Under the LHWCA
Physical Therapy Under the LHWCA
Yes, it's covered
Physical therapy appears directly in the list of medical benefits an injured employee is entitled to under the LHWCA, alongside diagnostic testing, prescription medication, and prosthetics.
How it gets started
Non-emergency treatment requires authorization from the employer or their insurance carrier. Once treatment is authorized, your treating physician can refer you for non-surgical care such as physical therapy, or whatever else your injury requires.
How long it lasts
There is no fixed cap in the Act. You're entitled to medical care related to the injury for as long as the nature and extent of the injury or the process of recovery requires. That said, carriers routinely question the frequency and duration of therapy, so documented functional progress matters. Therapy that's tracked against measurable goals holds up; therapy that isn't, doesn't.
Why therapy and work restrictions belong together
This is the piece that gets missed. Physical therapy is not just treatment. It's evidence. Each course of therapy should produce a record of what you can and can't do, and that record is what your work restrictions are built from.
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For longshore and shipyard work, restrictions have to be written in the terms the job actually uses. "Light duty" means very little on a container yard. "No lifting over 20 pounds, no overhead reaching, no ladder climbing, no working from heights" means something a supervisor can staff around.
Getting to the yard and back
Reasonable transportation costs for treatment. Mileage, parking, and tolls are reimbursable. Mileage is reimbursed at the federal rate in effect when you traveled. There's no required form; keep dates, destinations, and mileage, and submit to the carrier regularly.
Navigating Your Medical Rights
Under the LHWCA, you have the right to choose your own physician. You are not required to see a doctor selected by your employer or insurance carrier. This ensures your medical care is focused solely on your recovery and accurate documentation of your injury.
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