One of the most important milestones in a federal workers’ compensation case is reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI). Many claimants mistakenly believe MMI means they’ve fully recovered. However, it simply means that additional medical treatment is not expected to produce substantial improvement in the accepted condition. A worker may still experience pain or permanent loss of function even after reaching MMI.
Maximum medical improvement is the point at which a treating physician determines that a claimant’s condition has plateaued, or stabilized. While ongoing treatment may still help manage symptoms, the overall medical condition is not expected to improve significantly.
Reaching MMI does not automatically end an OWCP claim, nor does it mean that benefits disappear. If you need medical treatment in the future, or if your condition changes, you may still pursue treatment related to the accepted conditions. Reaching MMI usually signals the transition from active medical treatment to evaluating whether permanent impairment remains. For many injured workers, this is when long-term planning begins, and compensation options begin to come into focus.
If permanent impairment exists after reaching MMI, claimants may become eligible for a schedule award. Unlike wage loss compensation, a schedule award compensates federal workers for the permanent loss of function involving specific body parts. These benefits are discussed in more detail in our article on schedule award benefits.
But, to put it simply, MMI often serves as the starting point for determining whether permanent impairment should be evaluated.
Once maximum medical improvement has been reached, a physician may perform an impairment evaluation using the AMA Guides. That evaluation produces an OWCP impairment rating, which measures the permanent loss of function associated with the accepted injury. Choosing the right/experienced schedule award doctor can influence the final impairment rating and help claimants ensure they’re being evaluated fairly.
Although active treatment may be ending, documentation remains just as important.
The physician’s records should clearly establish:
That’s why we continue to emphasize the importance of strong OWCP medical documentation throughout every stage of the claim.
Reaching maximum medical improvement often marks a turning point in an OWCP claim, not the end of it.
If you’ve been told you’ve reached maximum medical improvement or have questions about what comes next, working with an experienced team of OWCP lawyers can help ensure your rights are protected and that every available benefit is fully explored.
Contact IFW Law Group to learn more about your options.
The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment – for many claimants, it’s unfamiliar terminology that sounds overly technical or something only doctors need to understand. However, the AMA...
Read More
Receiving notice that your OWCP claim has been accepted is a milestone. After weeks or even months of waiting, most claimants feel relieved and assume the difficult part is over....
Read More
Most federal workers breathe a sigh of relief when they finally receive their OWCP impairment rating. After months or sometimes years of medical treatment, it can feel like the last...
Read More
844-365-2889
