Did Atlanta Happen to You? Click Here for a Free Case Evaluation
One of the most consequential surprises in a Georgia workers’ compensation claim is discovering you do not simply pick your own doctor.
Georgia employers are generally required to post a panel of physicians, and your authorised treating physician comes from that list.
Because your treating physician drives your restrictions, your impairment rating and ultimately your settlement value, who is on that panel matters enormously.
Georgia employers are generally required to post a valid panel — traditionally at least six physicians — in a prominent place where employees can see it, and to explain it to injured workers.
There are alternative arrangements employers may use, including a conformed panel or a managed care organisation, each with its own requirements.
The posting requirement is not decorative. It exists so an injured worker can make an informed choice at the moment they need care.
This is the right most injured workers never hear about: you generally have the right to change once to another physician on the panel, without permission from your employer or the insurer.
That is genuinely valuable if your initial choice is dismissive, rushes you back to full duty, or does not take your symptoms seriously.
Further changes generally require agreement or an order from the State Board, so the free switch is worth using deliberately rather than casually.
If the panel was not properly posted, was not explained, contains physicians who are unavailable or do not treat your type of injury, or otherwise fails the requirements, your options may broaden considerably — potentially including treating with a physician of your own choosing at the employer’s expense.
This is why documentation matters. Photograph the posted panel when you report an injury. A dispute months later about what was posted, and where, is very difficult to win without evidence.
Invalid-panel arguments are among the more commonly litigated issues in Georgia comp precisely because the stakes are so high.
The authorised treating physician controls the medical narrative: whether you are working, what restrictions apply, whether treatment is authorised, when you reach maximum medical improvement, and what impairment rating you receive.
That rating is a primary driver of settlement value, so the physician choice is not merely a matter of bedside manner.
You retain the right to seek an independent medical examination in appropriate circumstances, which provides a second opinion outside the treating relationship.
Generally you choose from the employer’s posted panel of physicians rather than any doctor you like. If the panel was not properly posted or explained, your options may be broader.
Yes — you generally have the right to change once to another physician on the panel without needing permission. Further changes usually require agreement or a State Board order, so use the free switch deliberately.
That can significantly expand your options, potentially including treating with a physician of your own choosing at the employer’s expense. Documentation is critical, which is why photographing the posted panel early matters.
Your authorised treating physician sets your work restrictions, decides when you reach maximum medical improvement, and assigns the impairment rating that heavily influences settlement value. It is not just about bedside manner.
See how our attorneys fight for personal injury victims.
Our personal injury attorneys have spent 20+ years fighting for accident victims across Georgia. Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.