Medical

workers compensation medical careMany Georgia workers’ compensation claimants rate quality medical care as their most important concern after an on-the-job injury.  I wish I could tell you that you will usually be happy with employer/insurer provided medical care, but unfortunately, this is not the case.

Per the Georgia workers’ compensation statute, your employer gets the first opportunity to control your medical treatment.  As you can read in more detail below, your employer is supposed to post a “panel of physicians” who are pre-approved to treat any injured worker.

You probably won’t be surprised to learn that posted panel physicians are sometimes more focused on saving your employer money and preserving their source of business than in treating you appropriately.

Fortunately Georgia law does give you several very important rights when it comes to your medical care within an on-the-job injury claim.  For example, if the posted panel is defective (which is often the case) you are not obligated to use only panel doctors.  If the panel doctor does not provide effective care, the law allows you to demand a change in treating physicians.

Because medical care under workers’ compensation can become hotly contested, the State Board and the Georgia legislature have enacted numerous detailed procedures to set out how this medical care shall be provided.  I spend a good portion of my day reviewing medical records and negotiating with insurance companies to obtain better quality medical care for my clients.

If you have any questions about medical care in your workers’ compensation case, please call me at 770-351-0801 or email me by clicking on the link.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation Medical Care

Below you will find answers to the most common questions I get about medical care in a Georgia workers’ compensation case.

What is the Posted Panel of Physicians?

Am I Limited to Choosing a Panel Doctor?

Do I have any Options if I am Not Happy with my Panel Doctor?

Can I sue a Panel Doctor for Malpractice?

Can I Get Workers’ Comp. Paid Medical Care After I Settle?


 

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