After a Georgia work injury, you should have your medical bills and treatment costs covered. However, in order for your employer or the workers’ compensation insurer to be required to pay the bills, you are generally required to go to a “company doctor.”
Although you have limited choices regarding who provides your medical treatment, you do have the right to receive high quality care. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer at Parsons Law Group can help you to understand the rules for company doctors and can assist you in exploring ways to avoid these physicians and get treatment from your own health care providers. Call today to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can assist you. Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys can also answer questions including:
- What is a company doctor and do I have to go to a company physician?
- Is my employer required to explain the Panel of Physicians to me?
- How can an Atlanta work injury lawyer help me get appropriate medical help after a work injury?
What is a Company Doctor and Do I Have to Go to a Company Physician?
A company doctor is a doctor who is on a Panel of Physicians. Your employer is required to have a list of at least six doctors who provide treatment to injured workers. These six doctors make up the Panel of Physicians, which should be posted in your workplace. If you get hurt on the job, you must choose from among the medical professionals on the list. Otherwise, your treatment may not be covered.
There are exceptions to this rule. If your employer does not have a Panel of Physicians or if there are fewer than six physicians on the list, then you may seek medical care from any doctor you select and your employer will need to cover the costs.
It is up to you to be able to prove there is no Panel of Physicians. You may wish to take photographs of the area where legal notices are posted in your workplace so you can demonstrate that no Panel existed.
Is an Employer Required to Explain the Panel of Physicians to Me?
Employers are required to explain the Panel of Physicians to workers. If an employer fails to take “reasonable steps” to ensure you are aware of the panel and understand how to seek medical care after an injury, then you may be able to see any doctor that you want.
Unfortunately, employers do not always explain and sometimes lie and say they did. You need to document everything so you have proof your employer failed to comply with the law.
How can an Atlanta Work Injury Lawyer Help Me get Appropriate Medical Help After a Work Injury?
At Parsons Law Group, our Atlanta work injury lawyers know the ins-and-outs of Georgia workers’ compensation. We are also familiar with the reputations of most doctors in the area. We can assist you in ensuring that your employer complies with legal requirements when it comes to medical care, and we can help you to take action with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation if you are being deprived of the medical care you need.
Call today to speak with an Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney for help getting full coverage for medical treatment costs after you’ve been hurt on the job.