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OWCP Doctors in Jacksonville, FL for Federal Workers’ Comp
- Two Jacksonville Locations
- Customized Treatments
- Coordinated Injury Care
- Physical Therapy, Medical Care, Pain Management, Electrodiagnostics, Concussion Care, Auto Accidents, Workers' Comp, DOL, LHWCA, OWCP, Longshore
Hurt on the job as a federal employee? Your claim runs through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), through its Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC), under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA, 5 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.). East Coast Injury Clinic is a Jacksonville injury clinic where federal workers can see OWCP doctors, APRNs, physical therapists and chiropractic physicians under one roof, with the medical documentation OWCP asks for prepared along the way.
Many federal employees search for a “DOL injury doctor” or “federal workers’ comp doctor near me” without knowing how the program works. This page explains who FECA covers, how to become our patient, which forms matter, what our team provides and how billing works. We see federal patients at two locations: 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609 (Southside) and 13453 N Main St, Suite 302 (Northside). Call (904) 513-3954 or contact us to schedule.
Federal Workers’ Comp at a Glance
- FECA covers civilian federal employees injured in the performance of duty. Active-duty military members are not covered.
- Under FECA, you have the right to choose your own physician (20 CFR 10.300).
- For a traumatic injury, your agency can issue a Form CA-16 that authorizes examination and treatment for up to 60 days (20 CFR 10.300).
- Continuation of pay (COP) can cover up to 45 days after a traumatic injury if you file a CA-1 within 30 days (20 CFR 10.205).
- OWCP pays a chiropractor only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown on X-ray (20 CFR 10.311).
Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in Jacksonville, FL
East Coast Injury Clinic is a chiropractic and injury clinic in Jacksonville, FL, providing chiropractic care and injury treatment. From auto accident injuries and spinal misalignments to chronic pain and neurological rehabilitation, our team delivers compassionate, personalized care. Our Jacksonville team is here to guide you every step of the way as you work toward relief and better mobility.
Who Federal Workers’ Comp (FECA) Covers
The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act covers civilian federal employees injured in the performance of duty. In Jacksonville, that commonly includes:
- USPS: mail carriers, clerks, mail handlers and processing staff
- VA: nurses, aides, housekeeping and office staff at VA clinics
- TSA: screeners and officers at Jacksonville International Airport
- BOP and other federal law enforcement: civilian correctional and agency staff
- Department of Defense civilians: civilian workers at NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and Blount Island Command
- Other federal agencies: FAA, SSA, IRS, federal courts and other federal offices
For an accepted work injury, FECA can pay for medical care, wage-loss compensation and continuation of pay (COP) for up to 45 days after a traumatic injury. Active-duty military service members are not covered by FECA.
Maritime and port workers: Longshore (LHWCA)
If you work on the waterfront, for example in longshore, stevedoring or ship repair around JAXPORT’s Blount Island, Dames Point and Talleyrand terminals, your claim usually falls under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). It is a separate Department of Labor program with its own forms, such as the LS-1. East Coast Injury Clinic can help with Longshore injuries too; see Longshore and Defense Base Act injury care. Call (904) 513-3954 and tell us your employer and carrier.
Not a federal or maritime employee? A private or state job injury usually falls under Florida workers’ compensation instead. See our Florida workers’ comp care page.
Government guidance is available at dol.gov/agencies/owcp.
Our Chiropractic Services in Jacksonville, FL
At East Coast Injury Clinic, we provide a comprehensive range of services designed to help you recover from injuries, manage pain, and improve your overall health.
- Chiropractic Adjustments
- Diversified Technique
- Activator Method
- Physical Therapy
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Shockwave Therapy
- Car Crash Injury Clinic
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Sciatica
- Whiplash
- Herniated Disc
- Pinched Nerve
- Specialized Chiropractic
- Prenatal Injury Chiropractic
- Sports Chiropractic
- Emergency Chiropractic
- Workers Comp Chiropractic
- Federal Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP)
- Adjunct Therapies
- Chiropractic Massage
- Myofascial Release
- Stretching Exercises
- Functional Movement
- Balance Training
- Conditions We Treat
- TMJ / Jaw Pain
- Headaches
- Concussion
- Diagnostics & Exams
- Eye Tracking & Vision Therapy
- Electromyography
- Videonystagmography
Federal Worksites Around Jacksonville
Northeast Florida has a large federal civilian workforce. Civilian employees at these Jacksonville-area worksites are generally covered by FECA when they are hurt on the job:
- NAS Jacksonville: civilian workers at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, including Fleet Readiness Center Southeast and Naval Hospital Jacksonville.
- Naval Station Mayport: civilian staff in maintenance, logistics, administrative and support roles.
- Blount Island Command: civilian Marine Corps logistics employees on Blount Island.
- USPS facilities: carriers, clerks and mail handlers at Jacksonville post offices and processing sites.
- VA clinics: clinical and support staff at VA outpatient clinics in Jacksonville.
- TSA at JAX: screening and security staff at Jacksonville International Airport.
- FAA Jacksonville ARTCC: air traffic control and technical staff at the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hilliard.
- Federal offices: employees at the federal courthouse, SSA, IRS and other federal buildings, where desk and counter work can lead to repetitive strain.
Two Jacksonville locations
Southside: 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256, near Deerwood Center, off J. Turner Butler Blvd (JTB) between I-295 and Southside Blvd, near the St. Johns Town Center area, with access from Baymeadows, Southpoint and JTB toward the Beaches.
Northside: 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218, on N Main St north of I-295, near the JAX airport area and convenient for Northside, Oceanway and airport-area workers.
We see federal and maritime patients from across Jacksonville and Duval County. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call (904) 513-3954 to book at either office.
How to Become a Patient
Under FECA, you have the right to choose your own physician, private or federal (20 CFR 10.300). Your agency is required to tell you about that right. You do not need a referral to call us.
- Report the injury to your supervisor and file a CA-1 (traumatic injury) or CA-2 (occupational disease), usually through ECOMP.
- Ask for a CA-16 if it was a traumatic injury. Your agency can issue it to authorize a first exam and treatment.
- Call us at (904) 513-3954 with your OWCP claim number (if you have one), your agency and supervisor contact, and any CA-16.
- Come to your first visit. Our providers examine you, start a plan of care and begin the medical paperwork OWCP asks for.
Already have an OWCP doctor and want to switch?
Changing doctors after your initial choice works differently. In general, a change of attending physician needs OWCP’s approval. The usual route is a written request to your OWCP claims examiner that names the new physician and explains why you want the change. Call our front desk before you send it, so we can tell you what our providers need to accept the transfer, and wait for approval before assuming the new provider is authorized.
Common Federal Work Injuries We Treat
OWCP covers traumatic injuries (from a specific event during one work shift) and occupational diseases (from work factors over more than one shift). Federal patients often come to us with:
1. Back and Neck Injuries
Sprains, herniated discs and whiplash from lifting, twisting or an on-duty vehicle crash. Our physicians evaluate the injury and can prescribe rehab when it is medically necessary.
2. Repetitive Stress Injuries
Clerks, mail sorters and office staff may develop carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or bursitis. These are usually CA-2 claims, and they often need a clear medical explanation of how the work caused the condition.
3. Shoulder and Knee Injuries
Lifting, carrying, reaching overhead and climbing in and out of delivery vehicles can strain shoulders and knees. Physical therapy may be prescribed to restore strength and range of motion.
4. Pinched Nerves and Sciatica
Compression in the lumbar or cervical spine can cause numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs. When nerve injury is a question, your physician may order EMG and nerve conduction testing.
How Billing Works: We Bill OWCP Directly
East Coast Injury Clinic bills OWCP directly through the Department of Labor’s provider billing portal, the Workers’ Compensation Medical Bill Processing (WCMBP) system. For accepted conditions and authorized care, there is generally no out-of-pocket cost to you. OWCP decides what is accepted and paid, so our front desk will review your claim status and explain what is and is not covered before treatment moves forward.
ECOMP (the Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal) is a different system: it is how you and your agency file claim forms. You do not use it to pay us.
Payment depends on documentation. Federal rules list what a medical report should include, such as the history, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, treatment plan, extent of disability and a reasoned medical opinion on whether your condition was caused by your work (20 CFR 10.330). Our providers write reports with those elements in mind. Chiropractic manipulation is billed with CPT codes 98940 to 98942, and FECA pays for it only when an X-ray shows the subluxation being treated.
OWCP Forms, in Brief
Each form has a job. Some you file, some your agency issues and some your doctor completes:
- CA-1: notice of traumatic injury and claim for continuation of pay. You file it, then your supervisor. File within 30 days to be eligible for COP.
- CA-2: notice of occupational disease, for a condition caused by work over more than one shift. Our post on choosing between a CA-1 and a CA-2 explains which one fits.
- CA-16: authorization for examination and treatment. Your agency issues it for a traumatic injury, generally within 4 hours of the claimed injury, and it authorizes treatment for up to 60 days.
- CA-17: duty status report. Your doctor records your restrictions: full duty, light duty or no work for now.
- CA-20: attending physician’s report on diagnosis, treatment and whether the condition is work-related.
- OWCP-5c: work capacity evaluation for musculoskeletal conditions, completed by your doctor when OWCP asks.
Get current forms from dol.gov. Form names and rules can change. For a plain-language walkthrough of each form, see our OWCP forms guide.
What Our Team Provides for Federal Patients
- Medical doctors and APRNs: evaluation, diagnosis, treatment plans and prescriptions. Our MDs can serve as your attending physician and complete the CA-17, CA-20 and OWCP-5c.
- Physical therapy: rehabilitation when prescribed by a physician. The Department of Labor says physical therapy is usually authorized for the first 120 days after an injury, and longer care needs further medical support.
- EMG and nerve conduction testing (EMG/NCV): in-house testing that your physician may order when nerve injury is a question and OWCP authorizes it.
- Chiropractic care, within the FECA limit: FECA treats a chiropractor as a physician only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by X-ray (5 U.S.C. 8101; 20 CFR 10.311). The related X-ray and exam are also payable. Other chiropractic services are payable only when prescribed and directed by a qualified physician.
That rule is one reason a medical team matters in a federal claim. You choose your attending physician of record, and our MDs can serve in that role while our physical therapists and chiropractic physicians provide care that is prescribed and authorized.
Why Federal Workers Choose East Coast Injury Clinic
What federal patients can expect from our clinic:
- A medical team, not a single provider: MDs, APRNs, physical therapists, chiropractic physicians and in-house EMG/NCV testing in one practice and one record.
- Direct billing to OWCP: we bill through the WCMBP portal, so for accepted conditions and authorized care you generally pay nothing out of pocket.
- Documentation support: our providers prepare duty status reports, narrative reports and the forms OWCP requests, and our staff can communicate with your claims examiner about medical records.
- Two locations and weekday hours: Southside at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, and Northside at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302. Both are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
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Consequential Injuries
A consequential injury is a new problem caused by your accepted work injury, for example a knee or hip problem from favoring an injured leg, or wrist strain from using a cane. OWCP does not add a condition automatically. It generally needs medical evidence, including a reasoned opinion that explains how the original injury led to the new one. Our physicians can evaluate the new symptoms and document that relationship when the medical findings support it.
Claim Denied, or Medical Benefits Stopped?
OWCP may deny a claim, ask for more information, or stop authorizing care when the medical evidence is incomplete or unclear. If that happens, our providers can help with the medical side:
- Review your records and what OWCP said was missing
- Provide updated exam findings and diagnostic testing when medically appropriate
- Write a narrative report with a reasoned opinion on causation and work capacity
- Coordinate records with your attorney or representative
We cannot promise a result. OWCP makes the decisions, and appeal options such as reconsideration have their own rules and deadlines. For legal questions about your claim, talk to an attorney or a representative of your choice.
Return to Work and Duty Status
Your CA-17 duty status report tells your agency what you can safely do: full duty, light or modified duty with specific restrictions, or no work for now. Our physicians update your restrictions as your condition changes, and OWCP may request an OWCP-5c work capacity evaluation in longer claims. The goal is a safe return to work that matches your recovery, and recovery from a work injury often takes longer than the paperwork suggests.
The OWCP Process, Step by Step
Step | What You Do | What We Do |
1. Report the injury | Notify your supervisor and file a CA-1 or CA-2. | Take your history and begin documentation at your first visit. |
2. Choose your physician | For a traumatic injury, ask your supervisor for a CA-16, then call us. | Examine you, diagnose the injury and start a plan of care. |
3. Medical reports | Keep your agency updated and share any OWCP letters with us. | Complete the CA-17, CA-20 and other forms OWCP requests. |
4. OWCP review | OWCP reviews your claim and decides what is accepted and authorized. | Respond to requests for medical information. |
5. Treatment and return to work | Keep your appointments and follow your restrictions. | Provide authorized care, periodic reports and updated duty status. |
OWCP decides what is accepted and paid. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.
Understanding OWCP Treatment Timelines and Compliance Requirements
How long care lasts, and how often it is re-evaluated, affects whether your treatment stays authorized. Here is how it generally works.
Treatment Duration and Re-Evaluation
As care continues, claims examiners typically look for updated medical evidence showing clinical progress and continued medical necessity. The Department of Labor says physical therapy is usually authorized for the first 120 days from the date of injury, and care beyond that needs further medical support. Our providers re-evaluate you at regular intervals and document your functional progress.
Active Treatment vs. Maintenance Care
OWCP looks for treatment aimed at improving the injury. Care that only maintains a condition without measurable functional gains may not be authorized. Our clinical notes record treatment goals, measured progress and movement toward maximum medical improvement (MMI) or return to work.
Filing Deadlines
A FECA claim generally must be filed within three years of the injury. For an occupational disease, the time generally runs from when you became aware the condition was related to your work. To be eligible for continuation of pay (COP), which can cover up to 45 days after a traumatic injury, you must file a CA-1 within 30 days, and your lost time must begin within 45 days of the injury (20 CFR 10.205). If you are still unable to work when COP ends, the CA-7 is how you claim compensation.
If an accepted condition flares up again without a new injury, that recurrence is filed separately (CA-2a) and linked to the original claim. Our providers can document the medical findings for a recurrence.
Claim Details: CPT Codes, Pre-Existing Conditions and MMI
What CPT codes does OWCP use for chiropractic treatment?
Chiropractic spinal manipulation is billed with CPT codes 98940, 98941 and 98942, depending on the number of spinal regions treated. FECA pays for it only when an X-ray shows the subluxation, and the record should include the exam findings that support the treatment.
Can my OWCP claim cover a pre-existing condition that was aggravated at work?
It can. OWCP may accept a pre-existing condition that was aggravated, accelerated or combined with a work injury. The medical report needs to explain the difference between your baseline condition and what the work injury changed, and our providers document that distinction when the findings support it.
What happens when I reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)?
MMI means further treatment is not expected to produce meaningful improvement. At that point, OWCP may consider a schedule award for permanent impairment, which uses the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Our clinic can document your functional status at MMI and coordinate a referral for a formal impairment evaluation when needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About OWCP Doctors in Jacksonville
An OWCP doctor is a physician who treats federal employees with work injuries under FECA and provides the medical reports the Department of Labor needs, such as the CA-17 and CA-20. At East Coast Injury Clinic in Jacksonville, our medical doctors can serve as your attending physician, supported by APRNs, physical therapists and chiropractic physicians. Call (904) 513-3954 to schedule.
Yes. Under FECA, you choose your initial physician, private or federal, and your agency must tell you about that right (20 CFR 10.300). You are not required to use a doctor your supervisor suggests.
After your initial choice, a change of attending physician generally needs OWCP’s approval. The usual route is a written request to your OWCP claims examiner that names the new physician and explains why you want the change. Call our front desk first so we can tell you what our providers need, and wait for approval before assuming the new provider is authorized.
FECA covers civilian federal employees, such as USPS, VA, TSA and BOP staff, FAA and SSA employees, and Department of Defense civilians at NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport. Active-duty military members are not covered. Maritime and port workers usually fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act instead, and our clinic can help with those claims too.
It helps, but it is not always required. For a traumatic injury, your agency can issue a CA-16 authorizing a first exam and treatment for up to 60 days. Ask your supervisor for one. If you don’t have it, call us anyway and our front desk will explain your options.
A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury caused by a specific event or incident during one work shift. A CA-2 is for an occupational disease caused by work factors over more than one shift, such as repetitive motion. Only CA-1 claims can qualify for continuation of pay.
They are forms your doctor completes. The CA-17 is a duty status report listing your work restrictions. The CA-20 is the attending physician’s report on diagnosis, treatment and whether the condition is work-related. The OWCP-5c is a work capacity evaluation for musculoskeletal conditions that OWCP may request in longer claims.
Only in a limited way. Under FECA, OWCP pays a chiropractor for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated by X-ray, plus the related X-ray and exam. Other services from a chiropractor are payable only when prescribed and directed by a qualified physician.
It can, when the care is medically necessary for an accepted condition and authorized. The Department of Labor says physical therapy is usually authorized for the first 120 days after an injury, and longer care needs further medical support. EMG and nerve conduction testing may be ordered by your physician when nerve injury is a question.
East Coast Injury Clinic bills OWCP directly through the WCMBP provider portal. For accepted conditions and authorized care, there is generally no out-of-pocket cost to you. OWCP decides what is accepted, so our front desk will review your claim status and explain your coverage before treatment moves forward. Most injury care at East Coast Injury Clinic is covered through one of four paths: auto insurance PIP after a car accident, a personal injury attorney’s Letter of Protection, state workers’ compensation for a work injury, or federal workers’ compensation (OWCP or Longshore) if you are a federal or maritime employee. We also see patients under Medicare, Tricare, VA Community Care, and a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains exactly what is and is not covered for your specific case, so there are no surprises. Call 904-513-3954 or visit eastcoastinjury.com to start.
Our providers can review what OWCP said was missing and supply the medical documentation it asks for, such as updated exam findings, testing and a reasoned opinion on causation. We cannot promise a result, because OWCP makes the decisions. For questions about reconsideration, appeals or deadlines, talk to an attorney or a representative of your choice.
No referral is needed to call us. We see federal patients at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (Southside) and 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218 (Northside), Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call (904) 513-3954 to book.
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The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary. East Coast Injury Clinic’s services may not be appropriate for every condition or patient. Please consult a licensed healthcare professional to determine whether these services are right for your specific situation. Information provided about insurance, PIP, workers’ compensation, OWCP, or Longshore coverage is general and is not legal advice. For legal questions related to a claim, consult a licensed attorney.
East Coast Injury Clinic | 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218 | 904-513-3954 | eastcoastinjury.com
East Coast Injury Clinic: Serving Jacksonville and Duval County
Two Jacksonville clinics, one injury team: Southside at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, and North Jacksonville at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302.