In Georgia, injured employees must choose medical treatment from a pre-approved panel of physicians provided by their employer to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
If your employer fails to post or explain the list, you may choose your own doctor at their expense. However, seeing someone outside the panel without permission could affect the outcome of your workers’ compensation claim.
Understanding the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Panel of Physicians
Georgia law requires every employer to post a list of at least six pre-approved doctors who are reasonably accessible to workers after a job injury. One of these providers must be an orthopedic specialist, and no more than two can be industrial clinics.
After a work injury, you may pick any doctor from this list as your authorized treating physician.
You can also switch to another doctor on the panel once without needing approval from the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC). The doctor you select can refer you to other medical providers if necessary, and those referrals don’t count toward your two choices.
However, if those referred doctors make their own referrals, you must obtain Board approval to have those additional referrals covered.
Exceptions: When Can You Choose Your Own Doctor?
You may choose your own doctor in limited circumstances.
If your employer fails to post a valid panel or doesn’t help you understand how to use it, you may choose any qualified doctor, and your employer must pay for your care. You also have the right to request one independent medical examination within 120 days after receiving income benefits for an accepted claim.
This exam must take place in Georgia or within 50 miles of your home. Your employer must cover the cost as long as you follow the notice and procedural requirements.
In a medical emergency, you can get treatment from any doctor until you can reasonably choose one from the panel. The Board can also approve a change in your treating doctor if there’s a valid reason.
Risks of Selecting a Non-Panel Doctor
Choosing a doctor who isn’t on your employer’s approved panel can create problems for your claim.
Your employer’s insurer may refuse to pay for unauthorized treatment unless an exception applies. Their decision could leave you on the hook for the entire medical bill.
It could also delay your other benefit payments, since the insurer might dispute medical opinions from a non-panel provider.
If the Board later rules that your employer’s panel was valid, you could lose coverage for any care costs from non-panel providers.
Before you schedule any doctor’s visits, always confirm whether the provider is on your employer’s panel of physicians or whether you qualify for an exception. A workers’ comp lawyer can explain your rights, help you request changes or IMEs, and determine whether you have a valid exception to see a doctor of your own choosing.
Seeking guidance before making changes can protect your right to benefits.
How a Workers’ Comp Lawyer from Underwood Law LLC Can Help
If you have questions about choosing a doctor or dealing with your employer’s panel after a work injury in Georgia, Underwood Law LLC can help.
Contact our skilled workers’ comp attorneys today for a free consultation to discuss your claim.
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