The Pain Game: 3+0=0?!?! by Don Barthel, Esq. ![]() The AMA Guides permit the evaluating physician to rate pain-related impairment. After doing a pain-related impairment rating, the physician may increase the body or organ impairment (such as for an arm or the back), by up to 3% WPI. What if the body/organ impairment rating is 0% (such as a back injury that is assigned a DRE Category I impairment)? Can the physician nonetheless increase the spine impairment (0%) by up to 3% WPI to account for pain? |
The Pain Game: 3+0=0?!?!
When Do I Really Need to Know This Stuff?
When Do I Really Need to Know This Stuff?
by Mark Fletcher, Esq.
by Mark Fletcher, Esq.

Some preliminary information: First, the AMA Guides and new PDRS go hand-in-hand. Thus, if you are using one, you will be using the other. If your case is under the old system, neither the new PDRS nor the AMA Guides will apply.
PDRS Issues: The Dangerous Table B
PDRS Issues: The Dangerous Table B
by Don Barthel, Esq.
by Don Barthel, Esq.

We now know this means that we no longer rate an impairment by adjusting up or down for age and occupation. While these adjustments for age and occupation are still part of the rating process, the WPI is first adjusted by giving "consideration to an employee's diminished future earning capacity" (FEC). [See Labor Code Section 4660(a).] This language replaces LC Section 4660's earlier instruction that we give "consideration... to the diminished ability... to compete in an open labor market."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)