Legal Question in Workers Comp in Georgia

Re: company doctor referred me

Also, if you are unhappy with your treating physician, you have the right to change to another doctor listed on the panel at least once. By "treating physician", I mean the primary physician or the "authorized treating physician". The insurance company will pay for any referrals made by the treating physician that are reasonably required.

Essentially, all you have to do is ask for a new doctor from the panel list, and the insurance company must approve the change. You can always request another doctor after that, but if the insurance company denies your request, then you must get approval from the State Board of Workers' Compensation.

Re: company doctor referred me

Your employer is responsible for providing you with treatment with the referral doctor, assuming that your injury is accepted as compensable. If your injury has been accepted, and it appears that it may be, they should authorize your treatment with the referral doctor.

Under Georgia workers' compensation law, an injured worker has one authorized treating physician who is the primary treatment provider. The employer and/or insurer is required to provide you with treatment recommended by the authorized treating physician, so long as it is something that is likely to bring relief or cure the condition. Such recommendations can and commonly do include referrals to specialists.