CA-16 Authorization for Examination and Treatment

What the CA-16 Authorization Is

The CA-16 is the form that gets an injured federal worker into treatment fast. Issued by your employing agency after a traumatic injury, it authorizes examination and treatment and guarantees the provider will be paid for up to 60 days from the date of injury, even while your claim is still being decided. Core Medical Center accepts CA-16 authorizations as an OWCP-authorized clinic in Blue Springs, serving federal employees across the Greater Kansas City metro.

In short: the CA-16 is your agency-issued authorization for initial medical care after a traumatic work injury. It authorizes care for up to 60 days from the date of injury, your agency should issue it within four hours of the claimed injury, and it is separate from whether your claim is ultimately accepted.

When and How a CA-16 Is Issued

The sequence is simple:

1. You experience a traumatic injury on duty, the kind reported on a CA-1
2. You report it and request medical treatment
3. Your supervisor or injury compensation specialist issues the CA-16 within four hours of the claimed injury (within 48 hours if care was first authorized verbally)
4. You take the CA-16 to the treating clinic, which examines you and bills the Department of Labor

The authorization is designed for traumatic injuries. Occupational disease claims filed on a CA-2 do not receive a CA-16 unless OWCP gives prior permission, which is one of the practical differences between the two claim types. The rule is 20 CFR 10.300, and official guidance lives on the Department of Labor’s OWCP site.

What the 60-Day Guarantee Covers

The CA-16 obligates the Department of Labor to pay for the authorized examination and the medical care that follows for up to 60 days from the date of injury, unless OWCP terminates the authorization sooner (20 CFR 10.300). For you, that means the money question is settled while you focus on treatment. For your claim, it means the injury gets examined and documented early, when the evidence is freshest. Early documentation matters: the exam that happens this week becomes the objective record your CA-20 physician’s report and CA-17 duty status reports are built on.

What to Bring to Your First Visit

• The CA-16 itself, if your agency issued one
• Your claim number, if the claim has been filed
• A description of how the injury happened, including date, time and duties
• Any imaging or records from an emergency visit, if you were seen elsewhere first

If the paperwork is incomplete or the CA-16 was never issued, come in anyway and our front desk will confirm how authorization applies to your situation. The OWCP Forms Library explains every form your claim will touch, and our OWCP Claims Assistance service handles the documentation side when a claim needs more support.

Treated Early, Documented Right

The CA-16 exists so treatment is not delayed by claims processing, and that early window is where good federal injury care starts. Our medical team evaluates the injury, begins treatment the same visit when appropriate, and produces the documentation your claim will rely on for months. Same-week appointments are typically available, and for accepted claims care is billed through the Department of Labor rather than to you. Start with our OWCP Doctor page to see how the full treatment path works.