What happens if the case doesn't recover anything?

Lien agreements address this scenario in their terms, and it's worth reviewing those terms with your attorney before signing. It's a fair question to ask any lien-basis provider at the first visit.

Do I need an attorney to treat on a lien?

Many lien-basis providers work with represented patients, since the lien is tied to a claim. If you don't have an attorney yet, a coordinator can explain how the process typically works — we are not a law firm and don't provide legal advice.

What's the difference between a lien and a letter of protection?

Both are ways of documenting that a provider will be paid from the case rather than upfront. The specific instrument used can vary by provider and case; the practical effect for the patient — treatment now, payment from the case later — is similar.

What kinds of care are available on a lien?

Through the network: chiropractic care, physical therapy, imaging coordination, and pain management referrals, provided by independently licensed practitioners.

Illinois · Lien-based care

Lien-Based Medical Treatment in Illinois: How Doctors on Liens Work

Same-day chiropractic and physical therapy placement with credentialed lien-basis providers across Chicago — $0 upfront, no insurance required, demand-ready records delivered to the attorney.

Quick answer

Lien-based treatment lets an injured person receive chiropractic care, physical therapy, and imaging with $0 upfront and no insurance required — the provider is paid from the case when it resolves. Injury Network Chicago coordinates same-day placement with credentialed lien-basis providers across Chicago, keeps the records and billing file complete, and delivers demand-ready documentation to the attorney. A coordinator is available 24/7 at (312) 451-0101, in English and Spanish.

The basics

What “treating on a lien” means

After an accident, many injured people can’t pay for treatment out of pocket, and some have no health insurance at all. Lien-based treatment solves that. The provider agrees to treat now and be paid later — from the settlement or recovery in the personal injury or workers’ compensation case — and documents that agreement in a lien or letter of protection signed by the patient and, where applicable, acknowledged by the attorney.

Nothing is due at the visit. The provider bills the case file, not the patient’s wallet, and the balance is addressed when the case resolves. If you’re searching for “doctors on liens” in Illinois, this page describes exactly that arrangement.

Who it’s for

Who lien-based treatment is for

Injured people without health insurance, or whose insurance doesn't cover the care an injury case needs
People who can't afford deductibles and copays while they're out of work after an accident
Attorneys whose clients need treatment started quickly and documented properly
Cases where consistent treatment records may strengthen the medical side of the file

How it works

How it works with Injury Network Chicago

1
Intake
Call, email, or send the encrypted form. A coordinator confirms the case details and what care is needed.
2
Same-day placement
We match the patient with a credentialed chiropractor or physical therapist near home or work who treats on a lien basis, typically with an appointment the same business day.
3
Treatment and documentation
Providers document mechanism of injury, findings, and a treatment plan. We monitor visit cadence and keep the file's records and billing ledger current.
4
Records delivered
When treatment concludes, the firm receives the narrative, itemized billing, and signed lien documentation as one demand-ready packet.

1
Intake
Call, email, or send the encrypted form. A coordinator confirms the case details and what care is needed.
2
Same-day placement
We match the patient with a credentialed chiropractor or physical therapist near home or work who treats on a lien basis, typically with an appointment the same business day.
3
Treatment and documentation
Providers document mechanism of injury, findings, and a treatment plan. We monitor visit cadence and keep the file's records and billing ledger current.
4
Records delivered
When treatment concludes, the firm receives the narrative, itemized billing, and signed lien documentation as one demand-ready packet.

For attorneys

What attorneys can expect

Referring a client takes one call or a single-page referral. The firm gets a confirmed appointment, an intake report, and clean lien paperwork — at no cost to the firm. Records requests don’t sit for weeks: our standard turnaround is measured in days, not billing cycles, so the demand package isn’t waiting on documentation.

For providers

What providers can expect

Chiropractors and physical therapists in the network receive pre-qualified personal injury and workers’ comp referrals with scheduling support and attorney communication handled. There are no marketing retainers — nothing is due until a case pays, and our fee is a flat published schedule tied to collections, so you only ever pay per actual case in your door.

FAQ

Common questions about liens in Illinois

No. Treatment is billed against the injury case. There are no copays, deductibles, or upfront charges, and no insurance is required.

Start today

Start treatment today — $0 upfront.

A coordinator is available 24/7 at (312) 451-0101, in English and Spanish, or send a secure intake.

(312) 451-0101 Send a secure intake →

10 S Riverside Plaza, Suite 875 · Chicago, IL 60606

Injury Network Chicago is a medical coordination and referral liaison service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We are not a medical provider and do not render medical treatment. This page is general information, not legal advice.