How would you react if the authorized treating physician – the doctor on your employer’s posted panel of physicians – refuses to treat your on-the-job injury?
This situation happens frequently because the insurance adjuster handing your claim may tell the authorized doctor to only treat your lower back, but not your neck, or to treat your left knee but not your right shoulder.
This outrageous situation may happen to you when the insurance adjuster limits the scope of care that the insurance company will cover. This may occur if you do not describe all of your injuries in detail during your first few appointments with the posted panel doctor. Or it could happen if your supervisor fills out a first report of injury and only discusses one injured body part.
You cannot assume that the insurance adjuster handling your case will authorize the treating doctor to provide care for all body parts. Workers compensation in Georgia is extremely adversarial and insurance companies are more concerned with saving money than with your health.
Further, the authorized treating physicians on your employer’s posted panel may not tell you right away about any insurance company limitations on treatment. Make no mistake – posted panel doctors work for the insurance company and they may not have your best interest at heart.
If you sense that you are getting the run-around from your employer, their insurance company or the posted panel doctor, you need to take action and advocate for yourself. I have been representing injured workers against stingy insurance companies for almost 30 years and I am available to help you too. Call me at 770-351-0801 or email me using the form on this page.
