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What can I do if my employer ignores my request for treatment authorization?

May 14th, 2009
by Julia Lindsey.
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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, (more…)

Does the Panel of Physicians Affect the Type of Medical Treatment I Will Receive?

May 5th, 2009
by Adriana Sola Capifali.
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Employers who are subject to the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act are required to post a panel of physicians.  The employer’s panel of physicians consists of medical facilities or individual physicians who are authorized to render treatment to employees injured on the job.  There are three types of panels employers may elect to post: (more…)

An IME Physician May Request Patient Undergo More Testing

Feb 25th, 2009
by Julia Lindsey.
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In Georgia, as long as an employee is receiving compensation benefits, then he shall submit himself to examinations ordered by a qualified physician.  Independent Medical Examinations (IME) are common in workers’ compensation cases.  They give the employer or the Board a chance to determine (more…)

Do I Have to Go to My Appointment?

Oct 9th, 2008
by James Timmons, Jr..
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The Workers’ Compensation Act provides that an employer must provide medical care to an injured worker which is likely to “effect a cure, give relief, or restore the employee to suitable employment.” O.C.G.A. 34-9-200(a).

While providing medical benefits to the employee for a work-related injury, the employer may request examinations for the employee “at reasonable times.” This means that the employee may receive numerous notices the various appointments have been set up. These appointments can, at times seem quite inconvenient. At times the employee may not wish to appear for all of the scheduled appointments.

Failure to appear for an appointment or to cooperate with an examination can have some serious consequences. The employer, upon learning that an employee has failed to appear for an appointment can petition the Court to have the employee’s benefits suspended until such time as the employee ceases refusal of the treatment. If the Court grants the petition, the employee cannot recover any missed payments during the period of refusal of treatment. Therefore, as inconvenient as it may be, it is almost always a good idea to appear for and cooperate with any medical treatment scheduled by the employer.

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