Georgia Supreme Court decision helps injured workers get medical treatment

The Supreme Court of Georgia recently upheld the validity of State Board of Workers’ Compensation Rule 205 in the case of Mulligan v. Selective HR Solutions, Inc., 289 Ga. 753, 716 S.E.2d 150 (2011).  Rule 205 provides a method by which doctors and injured workers can get approval for medical treatment needed as a result of an on the job injury.  The rule provides that an insurance company has 5 business days to either approve or deny a request for treatment sent on the proper form.  If the insurance company does not respond within 5 business days, the treatment requested is considered pre-approved.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Mulligan is especially important because the Georgia Court of Appeals had previously decided that Board Rule 205 was invalid.  Without Board Rule 205, doctors and injured workers would have no method available to get timely responses from the insurance company and necessary medical treatment would be delayed.  The Supreme Court’s decision in Mulligan overrules the decision of the Court of Appeals, so Board Rule 205 has been upheld.

The Georgia Legal Foundation submitted an Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) brief to the Georgia Supreme Court in the Mulligan case arguing in support of upholding Board Rule 205.  Jason Perkins, who is a member of the Georgia Legal Foundation, assisted in writing this brief for the Georgia Legal Foundation.

What if I have other questions about workers compensation?

Georgia’s workers compensation system can be very confusing.  You have to worry about getting the treatment you need and paying your bills while also worrying about not missing any deadlines that could cause you to lose your right to receive workers compensation benefits.

If you have questions, I would recommend that you try to get answers.  To find out more about how to schedule a time to talk to me about your workers compensation questions, just read this short article.

Jason Perkins is an attorney who specializes in representing injured workers.  He regularly publishes videos and write blog articles about Georgia’s workers compensation system and issues that are important to injured workers and their families. To be notified of Jason’s new workers compensation videos, subscribe to his Georgia Workers Compensation Video Series channel on YouTube by clicking the subscribe button below.

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