Which scenario best describes a medical-only claim?

Which scenario best describes a medical-only claim?

• A. One doctor visit and one follow-up visit
• B. First aid treatment only
• C. An injury with no indemnity payments
• D. An injury with no compensable lost time, but results in medical treatment beyond first aid.

Answer: (D)

Medical-only claims are those where the injury requires medical treatment beyond first aid, but there is no wage loss or temporary disability paid to the employee. In California SIP practice, this means the claim involves medical care that goes past simple on-site first-aid treatment, yet the employee does not have compensable lost time. The scenario described fits best because there is an injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid, and crucially, there is no compensable lost time. That combination—medical treatment beyond first aid without wage replacement—defines a medical-only claim. Why the other options aren’t as fitting: first aid only implies minimal treatment that doesn’t rise to a medical-only claim, since it may not generate ongoing medical care. An injury with no indemnity payments is too vague about whether there was medical treatment beyond first aid or any lost time. One doctor visit and a follow-up could be medical care beyond first aid, but without explicitly stating there’s no lost time, it isn’t as precise as the scenario that clearly pairs non–lost-time with treatment beyond first aid.

Medical-only claims are those where the injury requires medical treatment beyond first aid, but there is no wage loss or temporary disability paid to the employee. In California SIP practice, this means the claim involves medical care that goes past simple on-site first-aid treatment, yet the employee does not have compensable lost time.

The scenario described fits best because there is an injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid, and crucially, there is no compensable lost time. That combination—medical treatment beyond first aid without wage replacement—defines a medical-only claim.

Why the other options aren’t as fitting: first aid only implies minimal treatment that doesn’t rise to a medical-only claim, since it may not generate ongoing medical care. An injury with no indemnity payments is too vague about whether there was medical treatment beyond first aid or any lost time. One doctor visit and a follow-up could be medical care beyond first aid, but without explicitly stating there’s no lost time, it isn’t as precise as the scenario that clearly pairs non–lost-time with treatment beyond first aid.