GA Tip of the Week – New Board Rule 200.2
As you may be aware, a new Board Rule was just enacted effective January 1, 2016. Board Rule 200.2 deals with changes to the rules governing nurse case managers and case management as a whole on our files. I have attached a full copy of the Rule to this email.
While you are still required to obtain consent from claimant’s counsel if your want your NCM to work directly with the claimant, the new Rule states that “Consent of the employee shall not be required for such qualified medical case manager to contact the treating physician for purposes of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the options and services required to effect a cure or provide relief.” This basically means that you can now assign a NCM to meet with a physician to discuss the case without having to obtain consent from claimant’s counsel. This will be a great asset on claims where the claimant is represented, but the file is not in litigation.
If you have any questions regarding this new rule, or anything else for that matter, please feel free to call or email me anytime.
Zal Linder | Partner