You may have heard the term “maximum medical improvement” or “MMI” while going through your workers’ compensation case. MMI is the point at which your condition stabilizes and cannot be improved any further.
Even if you are not fully healed, you have reached MMI when your doctor says that no more medical treatment will help improve your condition. In this blog post, we will discuss what reaching MMI means for your workers’ compensation benefits.
What Happens When I Reach MMI?
Once you reach MMI, your treating doctor will prepare a report that will be sent to the workers’ compensation insurance company. The insurance company will then review the report and may send you to one of their own doctors for an independent medical examination (IME). The IME doctor will also prepare a statement with their findings and recommendations.
If the IME doctor agrees with your treating doctor that you have reached MMI, then your temporary disability benefits will cease, and your impairment will be assessed to determine your permanent impairment benefits.
Permanent Impairment Benefits
When an injured worker has reached MMI, they may begin receiving permanent impairment benefits within 14 days of the insurance carrier being notified. Permanent impairment benefits are calculated using a uniform impairment rating schedule. Paid on a bi-weekly basis; these benefits are paid at a rate of 75 percent of the worker’s average weekly temporary total disability (TTD) benefits.
For each week that the worker may earn equal or greater than their pre-injury average weekly wage, however, the benefits may be reduced by 50 percent. The frequency at which an injured worker is paid depends on their percentage point of impairment.
- Two Weeks of Benefits - For each percentage point from 1 to 10.
- Three Weeks of Benefits - For each percentage point from 11 to 15.
- Four Weeks of Benefits - For each percentage point from 16 to 20.
- Six Weeks of Benefits - For each percentage point from 21 and higher.
These benefits continue until the expiration of the payment period above or the death of the injured worker.
Finding a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Hollywood, FL
Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. has been protecting the rights of injured workers in Florida for more than 50 years. Throughout our history, we have obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements and continue to put our experience to work as we help our clients receive their rightful compensation and justice. As a family-oriented law firm, you can be assured that we will treat you just like one of ours and make sure you are satisfied with the results.
If you have suffered a workplace injury, call us today at (888) 499-6206 to schedule a free initial consultation.
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