HEY 1171

[backprob]

I appreciate your resposne to my earlier post. For your reference I've copied & pasted my original post & your response. I'm in WA state. I would greatly appreciate it if you have specific info for my state for the questions I posed in my post.

Thanks in advance.




"Question about IME, MMI & WC attorney

Hi all:

New here. After months of PT for my back, as soon as I started to show slight improvement, my employer told me that they would accommodate me with the current restrictions & pulled me off PT. Two weeks later, my condition reversed back to where it was before I started PT. I was sent home & continued to get my WC checks. Now my employer is saying I need to be seen by two IME doctors for an MMI & they booked me for that. I was benefiting from the PT sessions in a big way & asked my employer to let me continue with it until I see the IME doctors but they said no. When I asked why, they said whatever improvement I get from PT tends to be short liveD & that might give the doctors a false impression of what I can & can't do. They said I need to be seen by the docs the way I'm now in order to get a true assessment, although I've told them repeatedly that my condition has been worsening by the day since coming off PT. They are saying I'll have several options based on the report of the doctors, the more likely outcome being a vocational retraining.

The questions I've are:

What'll happen with the IME doctors?

What is an MMI & what do the various ratings mean?

If I'm sent to vocational rehab, will I lose my WC benefits or will I continue to get checks? At the end of the voc training, will I go back to my employer or will they find me a new Job? Frankly, I am bored outta my mind & I want to do something that would accommodate my current restrictions given by my primary doc.

Is there a possbility the IC might try to force me to settle based on the outcome of IME?

Do you guys think I need to contact a WC attorney at this stage or should I wait for the IME report? I'm still getting my checks and all the treatement exept for PT and as a result I've not bothered about hiring an attorney.

Thanks.


RE: Question about IME, MMI & WC attorney

generally MMI means maximum medical improvement and the ratings determine how much additonal impairment benefits you are entitled to.
each state has their own comp system so it's we can only generalize until we know your state.
the same with vocational rehabilitation: some states include it in the comp benefits and other it's outside.
they can't force you to "settle" but they can cut benefits until a determination is made by the comp court. "

[katicabogar]

Hi, Backprob,

I live in WA state also, I am in the w/c system since 2004 and just want to tell you, be very careful. IME doctors are paid by your employer, they are not going to recommend Vocational Training, they are paid to give you a low impairment rating. Your employer also has the right to fire you after your 12 weeks of fmla is over. If you are approved for vocational rehab, it doesn't mean they will send you to school. It cost them money. They will try to push you into something low paying. Here in WA, parking attendants, security guards and receptionist are the top recommendation by vocational counselors paid by w/c. If you are lucky and get approved for re-training, they give you only $4000.00 for schooling and it doesn't buy you a decent trade.

I think, it is time for you to consult a w/c attorney so they can fight for you. Believe me, they will take advantage of you if you are not legally represented. Here is my case: after three surgeries, I am worst than ever. I lost my job, I lost all medical care and they tried to buy me out with peanuts and get rid of me. I chose to fight and that's when I hired an attorney and I am not sorry. Although I am still without any treatment, but attorney prevented w/c to stop my time loss check and will go to court regarding the needed treatment.

Good luck to you and remember, w/c attorneys don't charge unless they win.

Kat

[Lilly]

Hi.

I do not think that your company has the right to pull you out of your doc's written perscription for PT.....the doctor must do this! Have you heard this, or got this in writing from your treating doctor?
Lilly

[1171]

here is some information on how assesment for vocational rehabilitation is done under washington state work comp laws
http://www.lni.wa.gov/IPUB/280-017-000.pdf
impairment ratings are used to determine the amount of additional benefits; the greater the disability, the higher the rating ,and the more benefits are available.
here's the rating form used for back injuries
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Forms/pdf/252006a0.pdf
this may help with some of the terms washington uses
http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Rules/Me...001002.asp

[backprob]

Thank you all for your responses. I found all the info informative & very helpful. It is much appreciated folks.