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Medical College of
Georgia
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Workers' Compensation
Workers Must Report All Accidents
Immediately To The Employer By Advising The Employer Personally, An Agent,
Representative, Boss, Supervisor, Or Foreman. If
a worker is injured at work, the employer shall pay medical and rehabilitation
expenses within the limits of the law. In some cases the employer will also pay
a part of the worker's lost wages. Work
injuries and occupational diseases should be reported in writing whenever
possible. The worker may lose the right to receive compensation if an accident
is not reported within 30 days. The
employer will supply free of charge, upon request, a form for reporting
accidents and will also furnish, free of charge, information about workers'
compensation. The employer will also furnish to the employee, upon request,
copies of board forms on file with the employer pertaining to an employee's
claim. A worker injured on the
job must select a doctor from the list below. The minimum conformed panel shall
consist of at least 10 physicians, including an orthopedic surgeon, a general
surgeon, and a chiropractor, with no more that two physicians from industrial
clinics. Further, this panel shall include one minority physician, whenever
feasible. One change of doctor from the list may be made without permission.
Further changes require the permission of the employer or the State Board of
Workers' Compensation. State
Board of Workers' Compensation
270 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1299
404-656-3818
or 1-800-533-0682
State Board of Workers' Compensation
Bill of Rights For The Injured Worker
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| As required by law, O.C.G.A.
34-9-31.1, this is a summary of your rights and responsibilities. The
Workers' Compensation Law provides you, as a worker in the State of
Georgia, with certain rights and responsibilities should you be injured on
the job. The Workers' Compensation Law provides you coverage for a
work-related injury even if an injury occurs on the first day on the job.
In addition to rights, you also have certain responsibilities. Your rights
and responsibilities are described below. |
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Employee's Rights |
Employee's Responsibilities |
| 1. If you are injured on the job,
you may receive medical rehabilitation and income benefits. These benefits
are provided to help you return to work. Your dependents may also receive
benefits if you die as a result of a job-related injury.
2. Your employer is required to post a list of at least four doctors or
the name of the certified WC/MCO which provides medical care. You may
choose a doctor from the list and make one change to another doctor on the
list without the permission of your employer. However, in an emergency,
you may get temporary medical care from any doctor until the emergency is
over, then you must get treatment from a doctor on the posted list.
3. Your authorized doctor bills, hospital bills, rehabilitation in some
cases, physical therapy, prescriptions, and necessary travel expenses will
be paid if injury was caused by an accident on the job.
4. You are entitled to weekly income benefits if you have more than
seven days of lost time due to an injury. Your first check should be
mailed to you within 21 days after the first day you missed work. If you
are out more than 21 consecutive days due to your injury, you will be paid
for the first week.
5. Accidents are classified as being either catastrophic or
non-catastrophic. Catastrophic injuries are those involving amputations,
sever paralysis, severe head injures, severe burns, blindness, or of a
nature and severity that prevents the employee from being able to perform
his or her prior work and any work available in substantial numbers within
the national economy. In catastrophic cases, you are entitled to receive
two-thirds of your average weekly wage but not more that $375.00 per week
for a job-related injury for as long as you are unable to return to work.
You also are entitled to receive medical and vocational rehabilitation
benefits to help in recovering from your injury. If you need help in this
area call the State Board of Workers' Compensation at (404)656-3875.
6. In all other cases (non-catastrophic), you are entitled to receive
two-thirds of your average weekly wage but not more than $376.00 per week
for a job related injury. You will receive these weekly benefits as long
as you are totally disabled, but no longer than 400 weeks. If you are not
working and it is determined that you have been capable of performing work
with restrictions for 52 consecutive weeks or 78 aggregate weeks, your
weekly income benefits will be reduced to two-thirds of your average
weekly wage but no more than $250.00 per week, not to exceed 350 weeks.
7. When you are able to return to work, but can only get a lower paying
job as a result of your injury, you are entitled to a weekly benefit of
not more than $250.00 per week for no longer than 350 weeks.
8. Your dependent(s), in the event you die as a result of an on-the-job
accident, will receive burial expenses up to $7,500.00 and two-thirds of
your average weekly wage, but not more than $375.00 per week. A widowed
spouse with no children will be paid a maximum of $125,000.00. Benefits
continue until he/she remarries or openly cohabits with a person of the
opposite sex.
9. If you do not receive benefits when due, the insurance
carrier/employer must pay a penalty which will be added to your payments. |
1. You should follow written
rules of safety and other reasonable policies and procedures of the
employer.
2. You must report any accident immediately, but not later than 30 days
after the accident, to your employer, your employer's representative, your
foreman or immediate supervisor. Failure to do so may result in the loss
of the benefits.
3. You must accept reasonable medical treatment and rehabilitation
services when ordered by the State Board of Workers' Compensation or the
Board may suspend your benefits.
4. No compensation shall be allowed for an injury or death due to the
employee's willful misconduct.
5. You must notify the insurance carrier/employer of your address when
you move to a new location. You should notify the insurance
carrier/employer when you are able to return to full-time or part-time
work and report the amount of your weekly earnings because you may be
entitled to some income benefits even though you have returned to work.
6. A dependent spouse of a deceased employee shall notify the insurance
carrier/employer upon change of address or remarriage.
7. You must attempt a job approved by the authorized treating physician
even if the pay is lower than the job you had when you were injured. If
you do not attempt the job, your benefits may be suspended.
8. If you believe you are due benefits and your insurance
carrier/employer denies these benefits, you must file a claim within one
year after the date of last authorized medical treatment or within two
years of your last payment of weekly benefits or you will lose your right
to these benefits.
9. If your dependent(s) do not receive allowable benefit payments, the
dependent(s) must file a claim with the State Board of Workers'
Compensation within one year after your death or lose the right to these
benefits.
10. If an employee unjustifiably refuses to submit to a drug test
following an on-the-job injury, there shall be a presumption that the
accident and injury were caused by alcohol or drugs. If the presumption is
not overcome by other evidence, any claim for workers' compensation
benefits would be denied.
11. You shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be
punished by a fine of not more that $10,000.00 or imprisonment, up to 12
months, or both, for making false or misleading statements when claiming
benefits. Also, any false statements or false evidence given under oath
during the course of any administrative or appellate division hearing is
perjury.
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| The State
Board of Workers' Compensation will provide you with information regarding
how to file a claim and will answer any other questions regarding you
rights under the law. If you are calling in the Atlanta area the telephone
number is (404) 656-3818, outside the metro Atlanta area call
1-800-533-0682, or write the State Board of Workers' Compensation at: 270
Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1299. A lawyer is not
needed to file a claim with the Board; however, if you think you need a
lawyer and do not have your own personal lawyer, you may contact the
Lawyer Referral Service at (404) 521-0777 or 1-800-237-2629.
Willfully making a false statement for the
purpose of obtaining or denying benefits is a crime subject to penalties
of up to $10,000.00 per violation (O.C.G.A. 34-9-18 and 34-9-19). |
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Workers
Compensation Panel of Physicians |
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Robert Abramson
820 St. Sebastian Way
Augusta, Georgia 30901
706-722-3326 |
Christopher McElroy
1221 George C. Wilson Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-863-8030 |
Augusta Orthopedic Specialist
3623 J. Dewey Gray Circle
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-863-9797 |
Gregory Oetting
820 Sebastian Way
Augusta, Georgia 30901
706-724-9607 |
Augusta Surgical Center
915 Russell Street
Augusta, Georgia 30904
706-738-4925 |
Robert Price
1221 George C. Wilson Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-863-8030 |
Boutwell Clinic West
3665 Wheeler Road
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-860-8717 |
George C. Pursley
3652 J. Dewey Gray Circle
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-869-9222 |
Kevin Cochran
1207 West Medical Park Road
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-854-1511 |
William B. Scruggs
1926 Thomas Lane
Augusta, Georgia 30904
706-733-8008 |
John Dawson
1220 George C. Wilson Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-863-9595 |
Robert D. Sheirer
1224 Augusta West Parkway
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-860-9110 |
Doctors Hospital Surgery Center
635 Ronald Reagan Drive
Evans, Georgia 30809
706-868-3110 |
Scott Sherman
3029 Deans Bridge Road
Augusta, Georgia 30906
706-793-0141 |
Evans Internal Medicine & Pediatric
635 Washington Road
Evans, Georgia 30809
706-868-3100 |
Roosevelt Stallings
1242 Augusta West Parkway
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-855-1709 |
Jack Feldman
3623 J. Dewey Gray Circle
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-868-5057 |
Kathryn Webb
211 Bobby Jones Expressway
Augusta, Georgia 30907
706-860-3355 |
Christopher Garrison
1246 Augusta West Parkway
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-863-9075 |
Michael Whitlow
1109 Medical Center Drive
Augusta, Georgia 30909
706-855-1709 |
Veena U. Jerath
1109 Medical Center Dr.
Augusta, GA 30909
706-868-8998 |
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