Workers’ compensation helps to protect employees who get hurt due to their jobs. Injured professionals are potentially eligible for medical benefits that pay for their treatment and disability benefits that replace some of their lost income.
The treatment a worker receives, the duration of their disability benefits and even what employment accommodations they can request depend on the determinations of the doctor providing their care. In some cases, a doctor may decide that they have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which can significantly alter the benefits that they would otherwise be set to receive.
What does MMI mean for a worker?
They have stopped responding to treatment. When an injured worker achieves MMI, they may not respond to any additional medical interventions. Their symptoms may persist indefinitely even if they receive more care.
Once a doctor decides that a worker has achieved MMI, standard treatment benefits end. Workers’ compensation may only pay for symptom management benefits at that point. Their eligibility for temporary disability benefits may also end.
The worker may need to apply for permanent partial disability benefits to help address the financial impact of their continued functional limitations. A workers’ compensation attorney can help an employee who has achieved MMI. They can navigate the legal process to question the doctor’s determination. They can also assist with the process of pursuing permanent partial disability benefits.
Workers concerned that their benefits may end can discuss their diagnosis and treatment with a workers’ compensation attorney. Having the right support can make it easier for injured workers to understand the benefits available to them and help to ensure that they receive the support they deserve.