Guide To Workers Compensation In Tasmania - WorkCover

Other Sections of the Act where disputes may ariseDisputes under the Act can be initiated by the worker, by the employer or bythe licensed insurer, to resolve issues affecting the claim and/or to obtain adetermination by the Tribunal. If any party intends referring a claim to the Tribunal,the necessary Referral to Tribunal form should be completed first.Either the worker, the employer or the insurer can refer a claim to the Tribunalat any time during the life of the claim and, if liability for the claim in disputehas already been accepted, the employer will have to continue making weeklypayments and continue paying medical and other expenses until the dispute hasbeen determined.Medical panelsThe Act allows the Tribunal to refer any medical question to a medical panel, butonly where there is conflicting medical opinion and one of the parties wishesto continue with the proceedings. A medical panel can also determine medicalquestions relating to the percentage of whole of person impairment.Panels will consist of two or three persons drawn from a register of medicalpractitioners who have indicated their willingness to serve. On each panel, oneof the members is to be a general practitioner and one is to be a specialist in thediscipline being examined. Panel members must not have treated, examined orprovided any medical service to the worker in respect of their claim.A medical panel is empowered to examine a worker, to require a worker toanswer questions and to produce relevant documents, but is not bound by therules of evidence.The decision of a medical panel is final and binding on all parties, including theTribunal, but only in respect of the medical question.Sections 50-55C24