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Longshore, Harbor and Defense Base Act Injury Care in Jacksonville
- 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
Jacksonville is a working port. Cargo moves through JAXPORT’s Blount Island, Dames Point and Talleyrand terminals, ships are repaired along the St. Johns River and at Mayport, and stevedoring, terminal and shipyard crews work the Northside waterfront. When one of those workers is hurt on the job, the claim often falls under a federal law most people have never heard of: the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
East Coast Injury Clinic treats work injuries with medical doctors, chiropractic physicians and physical therapists under one roof. This page explains how Longshore and Defense Base Act (DBA) medical care works, what the LS forms are, and how your choice of doctor is protected. It is general information, not legal advice. Whether your job is covered, and what benefits you are owed, are questions for the Department of Labor, your carrier and an attorney of your choice.
Who Longshore covers
The LHWCA covers maritime workers injured on navigable waters of the United States or on adjoining areas used for loading, unloading, repairing or building vessels, such as piers, docks, terminals and shipyards. That typically includes:
- longshore workers and stevedores
- ship repair and shipbuilding workers
- harbor construction workers
- other maritime employees working on or near the water
The Defense Base Act
The Defense Base Act extends Longshore coverage to employees of U.S. government contractors working overseas. Contractors who come home to Jacksonville hurt from an overseas assignment may have a DBA claim.
Not every port job is a Longshore job
Some people who work at or near the port are covered by Florida state workers’ compensation instead, and other maritime laws may apply to some jobs. If you aren’t sure which system applies, tell our front desk what you do and where you were hurt, and check with the carrier or an attorney.
Your right to choose your own doctor
Under 20 CFR 702.403, you have the right to choose your attending physician from among the physicians authorized by the Director of OWCP. The regulation treats about 25 miles from the place of injury or your home as a generally reasonable distance for that choice.
Your employer or its carrier may suggest a doctor. You are not required to accept that suggestion for your initial choice.
Changing doctors later
After your initial free choice, a change of physician generally needs prior written consent from the employer or carrier, or from the Department of Labor district director (20 CFR 702.406). Consent should be given when your first doctor was not the kind of specialist your injury needs. Put change requests in writing and keep a copy.
Who oversees your care
The district director supervises medical care in Longshore claims. The district director can require periodic reports from your doctor and decides questions about whether care is necessary and whether charges are appropriate (20 CFR 702.407). In practice, specialist referrals, procedures and some tests may need approval before they happen.
Longshore forms: LS-1, LS-202 and others
| Form | What it is | Who completes it |
|---|---|---|
| LS-1 | Request for Examination and/or Treatment | Your employer or its carrier, sent to the treating provider |
| LS-201 | Notice of Employee’s Injury or Death | You (notice to your employer) |
| LS-202 | Employer’s First Report of Injury or Occupational Illness | Your employer |
| LS-203 | Employee’s Claim for Compensation | You |
| LS-204 | Attending Physician’s Supplementary Report | Your doctor |
The LS-1
The LS-1 is how an employer or carrier authorizes a provider to examine and treat you. If your employer gives you one, bring it to your first visit. If it doesn’t, ask your supervisor or the carrier for it, and call us either way so our front desk can request authorization.
The LS-202
The LS-202 is your employer’s report of your injury to the Department of Labor. You don’t file it, but it helps to know whether it has been filed and to have your claim or case number when you call us.
Chiropractic care under Longshore
Longshore treats a chiropractor as a physician only for one kind of treatment: manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown by X-ray or clinical findings (20 CFR 702.404). Physicians may interpret their own X-rays.
That differs from the federal employee program (FECA, run by OWCP), which requires the subluxation to be shown on X-ray. Our OWCP forms guide covers the federal employee forms. It also means chiropractic care for a shoulder, knee or other extremity is not covered under the chiropractor rule. Those injuries are handled by physicians and physical therapists.
How East Coast Injury Clinic fits a Longshore or DBA claim
- Our medical doctors can serve as your attending physician, evaluate the injury, document work status and restrictions, and coordinate referrals when they are needed.
- Our chiropractic physicians provide spinal manipulation within the 702.404 rule, with the exam and documentation it requires.
- Our physical therapists provide physical therapy for work injuries such as back, neck, shoulder and knee strains.
- EMG and nerve conduction testing may be used when a nerve injury is part of the question.
- Our front desk checks your authorization and carrier information before your first visit.
A note on candor: we are a medical clinic, not a claims office. We can’t decide whether your job falls under Longshore, the DBA or state workers’ comp, and we can’t approve care. Heavy-labor injuries also tend to recover on their own timeline, and a return to full duty can take longer than anyone would like.
Where we are
We have two Jacksonville clinics with the same services and hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM:
- North Jacksonville: 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218, on the Northside north of I-295, in the same part of town as the JAXPORT Blount Island and Dames Point terminals.
- Southside / Deerwood: 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256, near J. Turner Butler Blvd (JTB) and I-295.
Both clinics see patients from across Duval County. Call (904) 513-3954 to ask which location fits your appointment.
What to bring
- The LS-1, if your employer or carrier issued one
- Your employer’s name and your supervisor’s contact information
- The carrier or adjuster’s name and phone number, and any claim or case number
- The date, place and a short description of how you were hurt
- Records from any emergency room, urgent care or company clinic visit
- A photo ID and a list of your medications
Frequently Asked Questions
The LHWCA is a federal workers’ compensation law for maritime workers injured on navigable waters or on adjoining areas such as piers, docks, terminals and shipyards. It covers medical care and benefits for longshore workers, stevedores, ship repair and shipbuilding workers, and harbor construction workers.
The Defense Base Act extends Longshore coverage to employees of U.S. government contractors working overseas. If you were hurt on an overseas contract and are now back in Jacksonville, you may be able to receive care here under a DBA claim.
Yes. Under 20 CFR 702.403, you choose your attending physician from among physicians authorized by OWCP. The regulation treats about 25 miles from your home or place of injury as a generally reasonable distance.
After your initial choice, a change generally needs written consent from the employer or carrier, or from the Department of Labor district director. Consent should be given when your first doctor was not the kind of specialist your injury needs. Make the request in writing and keep a copy.
The LS-1 is the Request for Examination and/or Treatment. Your employer or its carrier sends it to a treating provider to authorize an exam and treatment. Bring it to your first visit if you have one, and call us if you don’t.
The LS-202 is the Employer’s First Report of Injury or Occupational Illness. Your employer files it with the Department of Labor, not you. Knowing whether it has been filed, and having your claim number, helps our front desk set up your care.
Yes, in a limited way. A chiropractor counts as a physician under Longshore only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown by X-ray or clinical findings. Other chiropractic services, including extremity care, are not covered under that rule.
Not necessarily. Coverage depends on your job and where you were hurt. Some port workers are covered by Florida workers’ compensation instead, and other maritime laws may apply to some jobs. The carrier, the Department of Labor or an attorney can tell you which system applies.
Not for your initial choice. Longshore gives you the right to choose your attending physician among authorized physicians. You can listen to your employer’s suggestion, but the initial choice is yours.
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.
Talk to our front desk
Call (904) 513-3954, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, or contact us online. Tell us you were hurt on a maritime or overseas contractor job, and have your employer, carrier and any LS-1 handy.
If you have a crush injury, heavy bleeding, a suspected fracture, a head injury with confusion, chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first.
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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.