2022 Georgia Code
Title 34 - Labor and Industrial Relations
Chapter 9 - Workers’ Compensation
Article 6 - Payment of Compensation
Part 1 - Medical Attention
§ 34-9-206. Reimbursement for Costs of Medical Treatment

1. Any party to a claim under this chapter, a group insurance company, or other health care provider who covers the costs of medical treatment for a person who subsequently files a claim under this chapter may give notice in writing to the board at any time during the pendency of the claim that such provider is or should be a party at interest as a result of payments made in the employee’s behalf for medical treatment.
2. In cases where a group insurance company or other health care provider covers the costs of medical treatment for a person who subsequently files a claim and is entitled to benefits under this chapter, the board shall be authorized to order the employer or workers’ compensation insurance carrier to repay the group insurance company or other health care provider the funds it has expended for the claimant’s medical treatment, provided that such employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier is liable under this chapter for such medical treatment and provided, further, that such other provider has become or should be a party at interest pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section. The employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier deemed liable for such medical treatment shall not be obligated to pay such sums directly to the employee unless, and only to the extent that, it is proven that the employee has paid for such medical treatment himself.

History. Code 1981, § 34-9-206 , enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 727, § 6; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1409, § 9.

The 1990 amendment, effective July 1, 1990, substituted “Any party to a claim under this chapter, a group insurance company or” for “A group insurance company or” at the beginning of subsection (a), substituted the language beginning with “the claim” and ending with “medical treatment” for “proceedings before the board that such provider is a party at interest” at the end of subsection (a), inserted “workers’ compensation” in the middle of the first sentence in subsection (b), inserted “or should be” near the end of the first sentence of subsection (b), and added the second sentence of subsection (b).

Code Commission notes.

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1986, in subsection (b) commas were inserted preceding and following “further”.