State Legislation

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CorVel’s innovative claims management solution immediately connects injured employees to our Advocacy 24/7 to ensure they feel cared for, while employers have the confidence of knowing they are utilizing the effective measures available to manage workers’ compensation costs. We have created an environment of advocacy for the injured worker, while also providing full transparency and access to critical information throughout the claim process.

As a service to our clients, CorVel is providing links to information related to the COVID-19 pandemic provided by the states.

Georgia has released new procedure codes for telemedicine in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Legislature Status: April 15 special session cancelled; regular session suspended indefinitely.

• Georgia Department of Public Health coronavirus resource page.
• April 14, 2020 – The Governor announced that the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health, will begin to provide a list of COVID-19 cases in each jurisdiction to 911 centers.
• April 14, 2020 – The Governor signed an executive order which designated healthcare institutions and medical facility employees, staff, and contractors as “auxiliary emergency management workers.” This order will limit the civil liability of “auxiliary emergency management workers” engaging in “emergency management activities” while providing patient care if such care results in the death or injury of a patient.
• April 14, 2020 – The Governor announced the state’s plans to augment staffing levels for healthcare facilities in various parts of Georgia. The state is working with Jackson Healthcare through its subsidiary Healthcare Workforce Logistics to bring roughly 570 additional healthcare professionals to health systems.
• April 14, 2020 – The Governor released a long-term care facility report which tracks the number of COVID-19 cases in these facilities.
• April 12, 2020 – The Governor announced that the state has executed a contract with Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE) to build a 200-hospital bed alternate care facility at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC).

Legislation

• HB 792 transfers $100 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Enacted
• SR 5  Concurs with Governor Brian P. Kemp’s Executive Order declaring a public health state of emergency. Adopted.

Georgia Regulatory Updates 3/3/2023

SB 91 – Workers’ Compensation; the Time Period For the Dissolution of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund; Extend

Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)

Summary:

This measure extends the expiration date of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund to December 31, 2025.

Most Recent Update:

2/15/2023  This measure is scheduled to be heard on February 15 in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, chaired by Senator Larry Walker (R) In Georgia, hearings may occur without advance notice because the General Assembly is exempt from Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act requirements. A vote may occur at the discretion of the Chair. The Georgia legislature is meeting in-person for the 2023 legislative session. Anyone wishing to testify may do so by signing up at the hearing. All testimony must be submitted in-person unless an exception is made by the committee Chair. A vote may occur at the discretion of the Chair. The measure may be considered in multiple committees.

HB 480 – Workers’ Compensation; Benefits; Change Certain Provisions

Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)

Summary:

02/16/2023 – Introduced; Referred to House Committee on Industry and Labor; Hearing Held; Passed Committee

Most Recent Update:

2/25/2023 This measure modifies considerations for determining dependency for a live-in unmarried partner. It excludes room and board or other financial considerations for less than 3 months in calculating this. This measure also increases the maximum temporary total disability benefit from $725 to $800 weekly. It also increases the temporary partial disability benefit from $483 to $533. Finally, it increases the surviving spouse benefit maximum from $290,000 to $320,000. It takes effect July 1, 2023.

Georgia Regulatory Updates 4/1/2021

HB 700 – Labor and industrial relations; essential workers; include COVID-19 within the meaning of occupational disease

Issues: Workers’ Compensation (Medical Coverage And Reimbursement), Workers’ Compensation (General)

Summary:

This measure establishes COVID-19 as an occupational disease for essential workers. This measure defines an ‘occupational disease’ as those diseases which arise out of and in the course of the particular trade, occupation, process, or employment in which the employee is exposed to such disease, provided the employee or the employee’s dependents first prove to the satisfaction of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation that the disease is not an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed. This measure established COVID-19 as an occupational disease for essential workers if contracted within five days of performing work. This measure defines an “essential worker” as a worker whose employer does not permit them to telework. This measure does not specify an effective date.

Most Recent Update:

3/31/2021 The Georgia Legislature has adjourned Sine Die on March 31, 2021. This measure is eligible to be carried over and will retain its status in the next legislative session in 2022.

Georgia Services

• Workers’ compensation claims administration
• Industry leading savings for medical bill review
• State-approved utilization management
• Compliance with state mandates and quarterly reporting

Georgia Resources

Georgia Compensation Website

Georgia Government Website