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Getting Medical Treatment for Workers Compensation Back Injuries

Most people never expect that they would have to deal with a workers compensation back injury.  It can be very confusing when you are suddenly in pain and unable to do your job.

You want to make sure that you get good medical treatment to get better.  Your employer or their insurance company has probably told you that you have to go to certain doctors.

You may not know what rights you have.  What rights you have regarding medical treatment is very important to know.  This article will provide some information about how Georgia’s workers compensation law covers medical treatment for back injuries and what you may need to do to make sure you get the treatment you need.

If you want more comprehensive information about workers compensation back injuries, you can also check out this new article which discusses what back injuries are covered under workers compensation and what benefits you should receive for a back injury.

Male doctor shows female patient xray of spine and backDoes Georgia workers compensation cover medical treatment for back injuries?

Yes.  Medical benefits are one of the three basic benefits provided by Georgia’s workers compensation law.  The other two are wage loss benefits (temporary total and temporary partial disability) and permanent partial disability benefits.

Medical benefits under workers compensation pay for the medical treatment and testing you need because of your injury.  Workers compensation covers 100 percent of the cost of that medical treatment.  This means you do not have to pay copays or deductibles.

But, there are certain rules that you must follow to make sure the workers compensation insurance company has to pay for your medical treatment.  If you do not follow these rules, then the insurance company will not to have to pay the cost of the medical treatment.

What are some of the common types of medical treatment and testing that I will need?

The treatment and testing that you need will depend on the type of back injury you have.  Some common back injuries include:

  • Herniated discs (also often referred to as bulging discs or pinched nerves)
  • Spinal fractures
  • Sprains and strains

Doctors refer to your low back as your lumbar spine or lumbosacral spine.  They refer to your mid back as your thoracic spine and your upper back/neck as your cervical spine.  All the back injuries mentioned above could occur in any of these parts of your back.  So, you may see medical records talking about a thoracic sprain, a lumbar spinal fracture, or a cervical herniated disc.

Most back injuries will start with the doctor recommending x-rays or some other type of diagnostic testing like a CT scan.  Your treatment afterward will depend on the results to this testing.

If the doctor thinks that your back injury can be treated conservatively while they evaluate it, the doctor may prescribe medications and physical therapy.  If the testing shows an injury that needs to be addressed more immediately, the doctor could recommend surgery or some other more aggressive treatment.

Even when the doctor recommends conservative treatment initially, you may need more detailed testing later if your injury does not get better.  It is very common for doctors to recommend an MRI if you continue to experience back pain.

This MRI can provide the doctor with a more detailed picture of some areas of your back.  If the MRI shows a herniated disc or some other injury which causes pain, the doctor will probably recommend additional treatment.

What problems could I encounter getting medical treatment for my back injury?

The two biggest problems people run into getting treatment for a back injury are delay and denial.  Most medical offices want to know that they will be paid for the treatment they perform.  Because of this, they often want the insurance company to provide them with approval or authorization before you actually get the treatment they recommend.

This causes a problem for you because you have to wait to get treatment until the insurance company gives the doctor approval.  When you cannot get the treatment you need, your injury will probably not get better and could very likely get worse.  This can be a serious problem when  you have a severe back injury.

Woman suffering from hip and back pain while bendingAre there Georgia workers compensation rules that I can use to help me get medical treatment?

Georgia does have some workers compensation rules that are intended to help get medical treatment approved.  The primary Georgia workers compensation rule that helps get medical treatment approved more quickly is Board Rule 205.

This rule provides a couple of different methods for getting medical treatment approval more quickly.  The first is called a Form WC-205.  The doctor’s office can use this form to request preauthorization for medical treatment from the insurance company.

The second method for approval of medical treatment was introduced in 2017.  That method is called a Form WC-PMT.  It allows you to request a conference call with a workers compensation administrative law judge to try to get the judge to order the medical treatment recommended by the doctor.

Some other ways to get medical treatment approved include contacting the insurance company adjuster and requesting a hearing.  The best method to use will depend on the particular facts of your case.

Can a Georgia workers compensation attorney help me get medical treatment?

A workers compensation attorney can often help you get medical treatment approved.  I handle medical treatment approval issues almost every day including contacting insurance adjusters, filing Form WC-PMTs, and requesting hearings to get medical treatment approved.

The reason I have to do this is that delay and denial of medical treatment has become such a big issue in workers compensation cases.  Often, I am able to speed things up for my clients so they can get the medical treatment they need.

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.

It took me probably too long to finally get a lawyer when my work comp claim started and I had no idea what I should do. I read reviews and upon recommendation of several people started the process of getting a lawyer. I am fortunate and lucky to have come across Perkins Studdard. Jason and his team has taken care of me since the moment I first called them and made sure any and all questions I had were answered as well as working hard to get me my settlement so I can continue receiving treatment. If you're looking for a good law firm to represent you in your worker's compensation case I would highly highly recommend this one.Autumn Fields
I highly recommend Perkins Law Firm. Throughout the whole process Perkins team kept me updated and explained everything very well. I am very pleased with their work. You will not be disappointed!!trina flornce
Mr. Perkins and team...Tina* they have all been so awesome. Always available to talk to me with any concerns. Kept me informed on my case all the way. Greatly appreciated!Missy Cherry
Amazing! Jason and his team were very helpful and had the best communication by far. Walked me though every step with great detail and had answers for any question I had. They handled my case better then I could imagine, it was a weird case and they stayed on top of it and kept me updated every step of the way! Highly recommend this Team! Thanks so much to Jason and his Awesome team! -BrittneyBrittney-lee orourke
This law firm is very good at what it does the staff and the lawyer's that were involved with my case all were very perfesional and curious I couldn't ask for a better law firm I want to thank everyone for a great job thanks Les RyanLeslie Ryan
I absolutely love this group of attorneys, when I was at my lowest they did everything they could to help me get justice for my injury. I believe if I were to have never picked my phone up and called the amazing group that helped me I definitely would not have received my idea of rights. If you have an issue and are just not sure please understand that they will help you, stay in contact, answer any question you have, and for sure get you the justice you deserve I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I will definitely refer them to anyone who has been hurt because they most definitely care about their work and clients.China Jones
The entire law office was attentive and responsive to all of my concerns dealing with my workers compensation case.Luv Locs
If you must get a lawyer involved, you’d do well to work with Jason Perkins and his team at Perkins Studdard Law. They were thorough in gathering information and in sharing all the steps in the workers comp process specific to my case. Jason and the team were responsive to my bevy of questions and concerns. I appreciated the informative videos and consultations provided by Jason over video meetings and multiple phone calls. I hope I’m never injured on the job again. However, if I am and if my employer responds as my previous employer did, I’ll contact Perkins Studdard Law immediately to handle the case.moombi
Everyone at Perkins Studdard was kind and professional. They were always extremely responsive and answered all questions that I had and followed up to make sure I had an understanding of what was going on along with emailing videos to explain every step of my case so I would know what to expect and be prepared. Jason is a very genuine person and I trusted him with my case. He answered so many questions for me even before I retained him as my WC lawyer. I highly recommend him and his associates at Perkins Studdard.Dana Bess
Great staff and very knowlegable. They treat you like family and work hard to get you what you need. Highly recommended.Josh Carter

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