Georgia Workers' Compensation, Medicare Set-Asides and Injury Trust Funds
In the world of workers’ compensation, the terms “normal duty”, “full duy”, or “regular duty” work release has a significant effect on a work comp claim. Essentially, the normal duty release allows the employer to unilaterally suspend income benefits. In some cases, this regular duty release may give
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Recently, OSHA recommended a fine for an Augusta-based paper mill, International Paper, after an accident that killed a worker earlier this year. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that OSHA handed down 37 citations and proposed more than $120,000 in fines against
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Generally, when an employee is injured in Atlanta or any other city in Georgia, the employee may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are primarily made up of medical treatment as it relates to the work injury and income benefits to a certain point.
In most cases, the Employer may
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When the Employer/Insurer “controverts” or determines a workers’ compensation claim is not compensable, the Employer/Insurer will not pay for the injured Employee’s medical treatment. Consequently, the injured Employee will be responsible for finding a physician to treat with and for payment of his or her medical bills. This determination does [...]
Most individuals enjoy a certain level of privacy regarding their medical history. Most employees are weary about sharing intimate details about their medical history with the employer/insurer; however, pursuant to O.C.G.A. 34-9-207, the employer/insurer may be entitled to this information.
In a Georgia workers’ compensation claim
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With any injury or illness, it is common for a primary treating physician to find it necessary to refer the patient to another doctor for specialized care. Obviously, in a workers’ compensation setting, this is also possible. The question then arises, how does the Workers’ Compensation Act provide for such referrals?
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After being involved in a work-related accident, you will undoubtedly appear for medical appointments with your authorized treating physician. At some point, in most claims, prior to being released to full duty, your authorized treating physician will release you to work with light duty restrictions. That means
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After an employee is injured on the job, they are permitted to seek treatment with one of many authorized physicians on a panel. In some situations, that particular authorized physician may recommend additional treatment or testing from another physician. When this happens,
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Board Rule 202(c) provides in pertinent part that when an employer fails to properly provide the procedures for selection of physicians, the employee is authorized to select a physician who is not listed on the employer’s panel of physicians. That physician so selected becomes the authorized treating physician, and the [...]
