Client Workers Comp Instructions

To our clients:

Thank you for placing your trust and confidence in this office. I will diligently pursue a resolution of your claim. To assist us while working to obtain the best results possible for your claim, please follow the instructions listed below:

1. Follow your doctor's orders and keep your appointments.
2. Immediately send us copies of all medical bills, including prescription receipts, and other correspondence which you receive that are related to your claim.
3. Send us statement which includes:
   1. How are you feeling;
   2. An estimation of the amount of lost wages you are incurring due to your injury; and
   3. How this accident has affected your day-to-day life and daily activities, including household work, hobbies, exercise, marital relations, etc.
4. Promptly report to us any facts which you feel may affect your claim.
5. Inform anyone who wishes to speak with you regarding this matter, except your doctor, that they must first speak with your lawyer.

If your workers' compensation claim is compensable, part of the employer's/insurer's obligation to pay for authorized medical expenses includes an obligation to reimburse you for transportation expenses. Transportation expenses include the following:

1. Mileage to and from authorized treating physicians;
2. Mileage to and from physical therapy;
3. Mileage to and from the pharmacy to purchase medication prescribed y the authorized physician;
4. Parking at medical providers when you get a receipt;
5. Cost of a meal when the doctor's visit is more than four (4) hours;
6. Overnight expenses if you are referred to a doctor outside of the state.

You will not be reimbursed for transportation unauthorized physicians. You will be reimbursed at the same rate that employees of the state of Georgia are reimbursed for their travel. That rate is currently $0.40 a mile. If you take the bus, if you have a friend to drive you, or if you take a cab, you have a right to reimbursement at $0.28 a mile only.

The best method to get reimbursement is to ask the receptionist or secretary of each authorized physician for a copy of the account card maintained for your treatment. This account card lists each day you have visited the doctor's office and the charges for that visit. This will record the number of days you have made the trip. Next, measure the miles to the office from your home and double that for a round trip. Multiply the number of round trips the time you have been to the doctor's office and you will have your total mileage.

You can submit the transportation reimbursement request directly to the insurance company. Keep a copy of what you submitted, so that if the employer/insurer fails or declines to reimburse, for any reason, we will have a good record of what was submitted when we request a hearing on that issue.

If the employer/insurer requires you to appear for an independent medical examination, the employer/insurer is required to send you a check for transportation expenses in advance. If the employer/insurer does not, you should still appear for the examination, and submit a request for that travel reimbursement later. You will not be reimbursed for travel to a job interview unless it is part of a vocational rehabilitation plan. You will not be reimbursed for travel to our offices, or to court.

Your right to travel reimbursement ends when your right to authorized medical care ends. If your case closes without a stipulation, and is put in a dormant status, your right to transportation reimbursement will stay open. If your case terminates with a liability stipulation, you have the right to that reimbursement even if you submit the request for travel reimbursement after your stipulation has been approved. If you terminate your case with a no-liability stipulation, you will have to pay your own travel expenses.

The employment/insurer is not required to reimburse for travel expenses that you have not submitted. You must submit a request to be reimbursed. The employer/insurer has sixty (60) days to reimburse after the request for reimbursement has been made.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please be assured that my office will keep you informed of the status of your case on a regular basis. However, I hope that you will feel free to contact this office if you have questions or concerns regarding your case.

Sincerely,
Scott A. I. Hart, P.C.
Attorney at Law