Accident injury pain doctors in Santa Monica, CA

How accident medical bills are paid in California

California is an at-fault (tort) state: the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays injury costs, usually at settlement. Until then, care is paid by your health insurance, your own med-pay coverage, or a medical lien. Tell the pain clinic you were in an accident and how you plan to pay.

After an injury: what to do first

• Get checked the same day for any head injury, severe pain or numbness; urgent care or an ER comes before a pain clinic.
• Report a work injury to your employer in writing; workers' compensation then pays approved care (California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)).
• A pain specialist is the right next step when pain lasts beyond a few weeks or limits work and sleep.
• Keep every visit, prescription and missed workday in one folder.

Choosing a pain doctor in Santa Monica

• Check the license with the Medical Board of California. Physicians can also be looked up on DocInfo.org.
• Ask whether the doctor is board certified in pain medicine (through anesthesiology, PM&R or neurology).
• Ask which procedures are done in the office and which at a surgery center, and who reads your imaging.
• Bring a list of medicines, prior imaging (MRI, X-ray) and the dates your pain started or changed.
• In California, prescribers check the CURES database before prescribing controlled pain medicines, so tell the doctor about every prescription you take.