"there has been no official "authorized treating physician"

Your atty didn't suggest you get your own treating dr?
I would check on your state website for work comp and see what the rules are about seeking out your own care provider.

You need to have your own dr to cover your care & contradict any IME or QME report mistakes.

I may have done it wrong, but I went back to my own dr for my RSI claim when my symptoms & more, started returning a few years after the first claim was closed.
WC wrote a letter accepting my dr as my treating MD.
I had used the Managed care docs for 2 shoulder strains in between the RSI injuries.
Turns out it all joined together & became, mild now, but a chronic thing..

my claim was denied after about 6 months, but atty wrote a letter for my bills (PT mainly) to be put on hold until the case was settled or decided.

They will always low ball you to see if you bite, supposedly your atty contacted you for your thoughts on accepting it , and/or make a counter offer, or say no thanks..

lots of times it is a wanting game - but not a fun game at all.

Another thing that comes into play is if your injury is stable yet or not, worsening or not, those sorts of things .

You don't want to settle or go to hearing if you aren't sure of future possible costs & care.