New York State's injured workers need you!
Each year, more than 150,000 New Yorkers are injured or become ill on the job. These workers need and deserve accessible, high-quality medical care. Become a NYS Workers' Compensation Board-authorized provider so you can help injured workers get better, get back to work, and back to their lives!
Providers who can be authorized
The following medical providers may be authorized to treat injured workers in the NYS Workers' compensation system. As of January 1, 2020, providers who can be authorized must be authorized to treat injured workers. Note: If your specialty is not listed, you cannot be authorized, but you may be able to treat. See the Who Can Treat? page for details. Out-of-state providers do not have to be Board-authorized to treat injured workers, but you must be one of the provider types who is permitted to treat as listed on the "Who Can Treat?" page.
- Acupuncturists
- Chiropractors
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Podiatrists
- Psychologists
How to apply for authorization (three steps)
- Sign up to access the Medical Portal
- Review the NYS Workers' Compensation Fundamentals for Health Care Providers webpage
- Complete the new Provider Authorization Request
Once you've reviewed the NYS Workers' Compensation Fundamentals for Health Care Providers, you can begin the New Provider Authorization Request online application form, which you can access from the Medical Portal login. Because the application must be done in a single sitting (you can't save and come back later), it is important to have the following information readily available before you begin:
- Your individual National Provider Identifier (NPI)
- Mailing and practice address(es)
- NYS license number(s)
- Board certification(s), if applicable
- Certificate of completion of an approved residency program (if you have completed a residency)
- Disciplinary information
- Curriculum vitae/resume
- (Physician Assistants Only) Supervising Physician Affirmation Letter - this must be completed by your supervising physician and attached to your application
Sign up to use the NYS Workers' Compensation Board Medical Portal and/or login with the credentials that have been assigned to you. You will need this to access the online form to apply for Board authorization. To access the Medical Portal, you must have an NY.gov ID. This is not the personal NY.gov ID that you may have with other agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Taxation and Finance, etc. The NY.gov User ID and temporary password will be generated for you when you submit a request for Medical Portal access. More information is available on the Medical Portal Access and Administration web page.
The NYS Workers' Compensation Fundamentals for Health Care Providers webpage includes brief training topics/resources as well as a summary of provider obligations. You can review this content from this right page or within the Medical Portal (under Medical Provider, select Training, and then NYS Workers' Compensation Fundamentals for Health Care Providers).
Once you have completed your application and attached all necessary documents (e.g., certifications, CV/resume, disciplinary action), you submit it electronically to the Workers' Compensation Board. The Board will then review your application, notify you whether you have been approved for authorization to treat injured workers, and advise on next steps.
Important notes for physicians
Certificate of completion of an approved residency program
Physician applicants for authorization to treat injured workers must demonstrate that they qualify for a specialty rating. This requirement can be satisfied in one of three ways:
- Currently active certification in the medical specialty for which the physician has applied, by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association, and for those physicians subject to periodic recertification or maintenance of certification requirements, demonstration that the physician is participating in maintenance of certification, or
- Completion of a residency or fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association, in the medical specialty for which the physician has applied, or
- Completion of a residency accredited by CanERA (Canadian Excellence in Residency Accreditation) or one of its recognized historic residency accreditation equivalents (e.g., the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) that would satisfy the training requirements of a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Osteopathic Association.
Review by medical society
Applications submitted by physicians are initially reviewed by the medical society of the county where the physician's office is located.
When completing the online application, you will be asked which county medical society you want to send the application to for review. This should be the county where you practice the majority of your time.
The medical society you submit your application to may, at its discretion, charge a fee to process your application. Contact the appropriate medical society for additional information.
After the medical society submits their recommendation to the Board, it will be reviewed, and you will be advised of the final authorization determination.
If you have any questions about the application process, please call the Medical Director's Office at (800) 781-2362, or send an email to provider@wcb.ny.gov.