The short answer: Injured federal employees in Wilmington and across Delaware now have an experienced DOL-enrolled doctor close to home. Dr. Steven S. Moalemi, MD, FAAPMR, a board-certified physiatrist at OWCP Care on Concord Pike, treats federal workers' compensation injuries and bills OWCP directly for accepted claims. You can get matched with him, or another enrolled provider near you, through our free one-minute search.
We're expanding our network to Wilmington, Delaware
Find DOL Doctors is growing. Since 2015 our free directory has helped injured federal employees find doctors who understand the OWCP claims process, and today we're adding our first Delaware provider. Until now, a postal worker in New Castle or a VA nurse in Elsmere searching our directory would have been pointed to providers in Royersford, Pennsylvania, or Baltimore, Maryland. That's a long drive when you're hurt.
Federal employees in Wilmington, New Castle County and the rest of the state can now see a DOL-enrolled physician on Concord Pike (US 202) in north Wilmington, a few minutes from I-95. We've also published two new location pages: DOL doctors in Delaware and DOL doctors in Wilmington, DE.
Meet Dr. Steven S. Moalemi, MD, FAAPMR
Dr. Moalemi is a physiatrist: a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). Physiatrists diagnose and treat injuries of the spine, muscles, joints and nerves, usually without surgery, and focus on getting you functioning and back to work. That makes the specialty a natural fit for the back, neck, shoulder and repetitive-motion injuries behind most federal workers' comp claims.
- Board certification: Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (FAAPMR).
- Training: MD from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, after a chemistry degree at New York University. Physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and The Mount Sinai Hospital.
- Languages: English and Spanish.
- Office: OWCP Care, 1521 Concord Pike, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19803. Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
At OWCP Care, the physician who examines you is also the one who signs the medical reports that go into your OWCP case file, from your first visit through maximum medical improvement. You can verify his credentials yourself: look up NPI 1598038978 in the federal NPI Registry.
Who this helps: federal employees across Delaware
Delaware's federal workforce is spread across all three counties, and every one of these employees is covered by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), not by Delaware's state workers' comp system:
- USPS letter carriers, rural carriers and mail handlers statewide, who see dog bites, lifting injuries, falls and repetitive strain.
- VA staff at the Wilmington VA Medical Center and its outpatient clinics.
- DoD civilians at Dover Air Force Base in Kent County.
- TSA officers at Wilmington Airport in New Castle.
- Court and agency employees at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, plus SSA, IRS and USDA offices.
If you live in Kent or Sussex County, you can still choose a doctor in Wilmington. FECA lets you pick any qualified physician, and travel to and from authorized treatment can be reimbursed for accepted claims (see our guide to OWCP mileage reimbursement).
Why your choice of doctor matters for an OWCP claim
OWCP decides your claim on the medical evidence. Your treating doctor's reports explain what happened, how your job caused or worsened the injury, and what work you can and can't do. Vague or missing reports are one of the most common reasons claims stall.
Under the FECA regulations at 20 CFR Part 10, you make the initial choice of treating physician. You don't have to see an agency or "company" doctor. But switching doctors later generally requires OWCP's approval, so it pays to choose a doctor experienced with federal claims from the start. A doctor who takes DOL will typically:
- Bill OWCP directly for accepted claims, so FECA's no-copay, no-deductible coverage works the way it should.
- Complete the CA-17 duty status report and the CA-20 attending physician's report.
- Write a medical narrative that connects your diagnosis to your work duties.
- Accept a CA-16 authorization from your agency for a traumatic injury.
What to do after a federal work injury in Delaware
- Report the injury to your supervisor right away and get any urgent care you need.
- File your claim. Use a CA-1 for a traumatic injury from a single work shift, or a CA-2 for an occupational disease that developed over time. Most federal employees file online through ECOMP. The Department of Labor explains each step in its guide to filing a FECA claim.
- Watch the 30-day deadline. Filing a CA-1 within 30 days of a traumatic injury keeps you eligible for up to 45 days of Continuation of Pay. Our guide to the 45-day rule covers the details.
- Ask your agency about a CA-16 if your injury was traumatic. It authorizes your first treatment.
- Choose a DOL-enrolled doctor. In the Wilmington area, start with our Wilmington DOL doctor page, or use the free search below.
- Follow your case online through OWCP Connect, the Department of Labor's portal for claimants, and keep copies of every form. Our OWCP forms guide and the official DOL forms library list each form and who completes it.
Need help with the paperwork? Every provider in our directory, plus several independent OWCP case managers, offers free claims assistance and case management.
Delaware workers' comp vs. federal workers' comp
Delaware's Office of Workers' Compensation handles claims for private-sector and state employees. It doesn't handle federal claims. If you work for a federal agency, your work injury is covered by FECA and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). The forms, deadlines and rules for choosing a doctor are different, which is why a doctor familiar with OWCP makes a real difference.
Get matched with a DOL doctor in Wilmington
Hurt on the job? Use the free one-minute search on this page, or call 888-610-6515, and we'll connect you with Dr. Moalemi or another DOL-enrolled provider near you who's accepting new OWCP patients. Not in Delaware? Browse DOL doctors by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a DOL doctor in Wilmington, DE?
Yes. Dr. Steven S. Moalemi, MD, FAAPMR, a board-certified physiatrist at OWCP Care, 1521 Concord Pike, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19803, is enrolled with OWCP and treats injured federal employees. Find DOL Doctors can match you with him or another enrolled provider for free.
Do I have to see my agency's doctor in Delaware?
No. Under FECA, you make the initial choice of a qualified treating physician. Changing doctors later generally requires OWCP's approval, so choose a doctor experienced with OWCP claims from the start.
How much does it cost to see a DOL doctor in Delaware?
For accepted claims and authorized treatment, DOL-enrolled providers bill OWCP directly, and FECA has no copays or deductibles. If your claim is still pending, ask the provider about billing before treatment. Using the Find DOL Doctors search is always free.
I live in Dover or Sussex County. Can I see the Wilmington doctor?
Yes. FECA lets you choose any qualified physician, and travel to and from authorized treatment can be reimbursed for accepted claims.
Is Find DOL Doctors part of the Department of Labor?
No. Find DOL Doctors is an independent directory and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor or OWCP. Providers do not pay to be listed.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Find DOL Doctors is independent and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor or OWCP. See our editorial policy.