Start with the issue actually in dispute
Surgery denied is mainly a problem of medical necessity and review process. Build the file around the written notice, dated record, or event that created the problem.
Documents to gather
Surgical recommendation, denial/utilization-review notice, imaging, prior treatment, and specialist rationale.
Questions to answer before acting
- What changed, on what date, and who made the decision?
- Is there a written notice or only a phone conversation?
- Which medical, wage, employment, or incident record directly addresses the dispute?
- What state or federal agency procedure controls the next step?
- Is there a separate employment, third-party, leave, or discrimination issue that should not be mixed into the workers’ compensation question?
Important caution
Identify the exact medical-review reason and the procedure for challenging it.
Turn the problem into a short claim record
Write the sequence in dates, quote the notice or message accurately, list the records already sent, and identify the response still needed. Keep procedural questions separate from requests for legal advice.