Most offices you call will say they do not take "DOL" or "federal workers' comp." That is normal, and it is fixable. Here is the fastest way through it.
1. Start with offices that billed OWCP recently
The Department of Labor keeps a public list of enrolled providers. The catch: enrolled is not the same as active. In late 2023, members of Congress wrote to the Labor Department after federal workers found doctors on the official list who had quit seeing OWCP patients years earlier.
Every office on this site comes from the same Labor Department data, filtered to providers that billed OWCP within the last 12 months. An office that billed this year is far more likely to say yes than one that enrolled a decade ago.
2. Call, and ask the right question
Front desks hear "workers' comp" and think of state workers' comp, which is a different system. Say the words OWCP and Department of Labor, and ask two things: are you enrolled, and are you taking new patients.
"Hi, I'm a federal employee with a work injury under OWCP, the Department of Labor's workers' comp program. Are you enrolled with OWCP and taking new DOL patients right now? My claim number is ____."
3. Have these ready
- Your OWCP claim number, if you have one yet.
- Form CA-16 if your supervisor gave you one. It authorizes treatment for a traumatic injury for up to 60 days and names the doctor or facility.
- Your agency and supervisor's contact, plus the date and how you were hurt.
4. Make sure the reports go to OWCP
Your doctor sends medical reports to OWCP, often on Form CA-20, or as a narrative letter on the office letterhead. Your agency may also ask the doctor for Form CA-17, a duty status report that says what work you can do. Ask the office who handles OWCP paperwork, and get their name.
If nobody nearby says yes
- Search a nearby larger city. OWCP generally treats a round trip of up to 100 miles as reasonable travel for care, and pays reasonable travel costs.
- Look for occupational medicine clinics. Treating work injuries is their whole business, and many already work with OWCP.
- Ask your OWCP claims examiner for help finding an enrolled provider.
Find offices that billed OWCP in the last 12 months near you.
Common questions
Is every doctor on this site guaranteed to see me?
No. Each office billed OWCP in the last 12 months, which is a strong sign, but a listing does not require any provider to take a particular patient. Always call first.
Can I go to the emergency room for a work injury?
Yes. Under 20 CFR 10.300, any qualified physician may give initial treatment of a work injury in an emergency.
Do I need my claim number before my first visit?
Not always. For a traumatic injury your agency can authorize care with Form CA-16. Bring the claim number as soon as you have it, because the office needs it to bill OWCP.
Sources
- Letter from members of Congress to DOL on federal workers' access to OWCP doctors (Dec. 2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor, OWCP provider search
- 20 CFR 10.300, authorizing medical care (Form CA-16)
- 20 CFR 10.331, medical reports (CA-16, CA-20, CA-17)
- 20 CFR 10.315, transportation to medical treatment
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is not legal advice.
