What is maximum medical improvement (MMI) and how does it affect my workers’ compensation claim?

Of all the terms you’ll encounter during the New York workers’ compensation process, maximum medical improvement, or MMI, could be one of the most important. MMI means that you’ve reached a point where your doctor says your work-related injury or occupational illness has improved as much as it’s going to. Basically, this means it’s as good as it’s going to get—your injury is unlikely to improve further, even with additional treatment. These three little letters have a huge impact on what comes next in your workers’ comp claim.

Before MMI, you may have been receiving weekly temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) payments. Once you reach MMI, those benefits stop. The next step is for your doctor to evaluate you for a permanent disability and, if applicable, assign you a disability rating. You could be sent back to work with restrictions or be approved to work in a less strenuous position. Your disability rating also determines what you could receive in permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits and how long you can collect them.

In a workers’ compensation claim, reaching MMI may seem like reaching the light at the end of the tunnel—but beware. If you’re not ready to return to work, reaching MMI could lead to a break in much-needed benefits. Don’t let this happen to you.

If you’re collecting workers’ compensation benefits and your doctor seems to think you’re approaching MMI, but you disagree, contact a knowledgeable and experienced workers’ compensation attorney right away to discuss your legal rights and options. A skilled attorney can help you effectively refute a premature MMI decision.

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If MMI is a concern, you need a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney to review your case. At O’Connor Law PLLC, our team of esteemed attorneys offers free initial consultations. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your claim.