Georgia’s State Board of Workers’ Compensation has recently released the updated Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights. The changes to the mandatory posting come as a result of a new enacted law (Bill H 412). Effective July 1, 2015, the temporary total disability rate, temporary partial disability rate, and surviving spouse benefits will increase.
When the injured worker’s wage-earning capacity is lost totally, but only on a temporary basis, the employer must now pay a weekly benefit of no more than $550. When the wage earning capacity is lost only partially, and on a temporary basis, the employer must pay no more than $367 per week. For a surviving spouse with no children, $220,000 will be the maximum amount he or she will receive as compensation.
Also under the new law, the list known as “Conformed Panel of Physicians” was removed and is no longer required. The form was a list of physicians in conformity with the guidelines and criteria established. The employee was able to use this list to choose the physician for the needed services.
The Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights posting has been updated with the new benefit rates, and CPC is offering two options to stay compliant – Georgia 2015 Workers’ Compensation Bill of Rights Peel ‘N PostTM or Georgia All-On-OneTM Labor Law Poster. All Georgia employers must post the Bill of Rights along with the Panel of Physicians to stay compliant.