Who controls medical in the first 30 days?

• A. 10 working days
• B. 15 working days
• C. 20 working days
• D. 5 working days

Answer: (D)

The key idea is who has the authority to direct medical care right after a work injury. In California self‑insurance and workers’ comp rules, the employer (or the employer’s claims administrator) has control of medical treatment for the first 30 days. A critical part of that control is getting a treating physician lined up quickly, specifically within five working days of the injury, so that treatment decisions for the initial 30 days can be directed by the employer. That five‑day window establishes the trigger for when the employer takes on medical control and can authorize initial care. The other day counts don’t align with this required setup window, so five working days is the correct timeframe to understand who and when medical control is established for the first 30 days.