In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation (SBWC) has issued Provisions for Telemedicine
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 | 705 | 0
STATE BOARD OF WORKERS COMPENSATION
270 Peachtree Street N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1299
(404) 656-2048
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 8, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation (SBWC) has issued Provisions for Telemedicine
Atlanta, GA (April 8, 2020). The Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation issued its 2020 Medical Fee Schedule on April 1, 2020. For the first time, the Georgia fee schedule includes provisions for telemedicine services in workers compensation cases. In recognition of COVID-19 social distance requirements and the necessity to avoid all but essential public contact, the Board acted swiftly to make telemedicine a viable option for access to medical treatment while limiting coronavirus exposure for both injured workers and healthcare providers, Delece Brooks, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, said.
Telemedicine is defined in the Georgia Medical Fee Schedule as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or health care professional.
The Georgia Medical Fee Schedule provides guidelines and specific procedure codes eligible for telemedicine effective April 1, 2020. These procedure codes are eligible to be provided via telemedicine when the patient is non-emergent, and the healthcare provider and the patient agree to the medical treatment being handled by a telemedicine appointment. Additional details regarding the procedure codes eligible for telemedicine can be found on the Boards website at www.sbwc.georgia.gov. The 2020 Georgia Medical Fee Schedule is now available for purchase from the Boards website from vendor FAIR Health.
For additional information, please contact the Board at (404) 656-2048 or visit www.sbwc.georgia.gov.