Maximum medical improvement is when the condition of an employee injured in their line of duty has improved to a point where further treatment efforts do not affect the affected person’s status. MMI medical can negatively affect the employee’s compensation, and in some instances, the compensation may cease.
A medical practitioner determines the level at which a patient’s condition cannot improve further. The employer may request an independent medical examination to confirm the findings. If the specialist dealing with the issue agrees to the independent examination outcome, then an employee’s compensation could be terminated. If you do not agree with the results, it can be resolved by filing a compensation claim in a court of law.
Permanent Partial Disability
A patient may reach maximum medical improvement while receiving treatment. Treatment at this level aims to maintain a certain degree of stability. Patients who have achieved maximum improvement are assigned a permanent partial disability rating. It determines the number of weeks a recovering patient can receive partial disability benefits.
The amount of compensation depends on the part of the body affected, and the value varies between states. An experienced attorney can help you compute the total benefits using the average weekly wages and the rating given to the injured part of the body.
Worker’s Compensation Benefits
When a person is injured at their place of work, they need compensation to cushion them while receiving treatment. These benefits include the following;
Medical care cover
The medical care benefit meets all the medical treatment costs. It is a coverage that takes care of all the necessary procedures carried out by the health practitioner and medication. If the patient requests any services, the cost is not met by the medical care cover.
Wage replacement
It is a weekly allowance of the percentage of your monthly payment, which is a portion of your earnings before injury. The total benefit depends on your locality, as different states have various allocations for wage replacement.
End of case settlement
Once your worker’s compensation case is over, the injured person is entitled to a settlement. The amount of this settlement varies depending on the nature of sustained injuries. An experienced attorney can help you with negotiations on the amount of settlement.
Injuries that prevent a person from working
If an injury sustained at work prevents you from working again in your lifetime, it does not end an employee’s rights. The injured person is entitled to lifelong benefits that include the cost of medication and care programs.
The ability to perform daily tasks can be affected by an injury in different ways. Medical professionals help in the determination of the rate at which sustained injuries affect work performance. The evaluation of this rating takes place after a patient has reached the maximum medical improvement.
Impairment Benefits
If the evaluation outcome is positive, the employee has sustained permanent injuries and is entitled to extra benefits. The benefits are based on the percentage of the impairment. If the responsible insurance company does not pay the benefits within the required time, the patient is entitled to penalties and interest.
If the insurance provider fails to pay the benefits at all, you need to seek the expertise of an injury attorney to represent you in a court of law and ensure that justice is done. The attorney will file a petition for benefits and ensure that all your legal needs are met satisfactorily.
In some instances, the insurance company may close your case and indicate that you are no longer eligible for the benefits. In such a case, you need the assistance of an experienced compensation attorney. The attorney will represent you and challenge the actions of the insurance company. They will ensure that you get compensation for the entire injury period and even in the future.