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MMI and Impairment Ratings for Injured Workers in Jacksonville
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Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point where further recovery from an injury is not expected, even with more treatment. An impairment rating is a physician’s measurement of any permanent loss of function at MMI, expressed as a percentage using a rating guide. Florida workers’ compensation uses the Florida Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule. Federal OWCP schedule awards and Longshore claims use the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
At East Coast Injury Clinic, our physicians address MMI and impairment ratings for patients we have treated, as the final step of a work-injury case. This page explains the medical side in general terms. It is not legal advice, and benefit amounts are a question for your adjuster or an attorney.
MMI and impairment ratings at a glance
- Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point where further recovery from an injury is not expected.
- Florida workers’ compensation rates permanent impairment at MMI using the Florida Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule.
- OWCP schedule awards for federal employees are rated at MMI using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
- Longshore impairment ratings also use the AMA Guides.
- Florida workers’ compensation provides an independent medical examination (IME) process under F.S. 440.13(5).
- Reaching MMI does not always mean you are pain-free or fully healed.
What MMI means, and what it does not
MMI is a medical finding about your recovery curve. It means your condition has stabilized, not that you feel the way you did before the injury. Some people reach MMI with no lasting problems. Others reach it with some permanent pain, stiffness or weakness.
MMI matters because claim systems use it as a turning point. In Florida workers’ comp, for example, the impairment rating is assigned at MMI, and it is used to decide whether impairment income benefits are owed. Your physician may also address whether ongoing care is still needed after MMI, and the carrier decides what it will authorize.
MMI can be reached for one body part before another, and a condition that worsens later can be reevaluated.
How an impairment rating exam works
- Records review. Your physician reviews your treatment history, imaging and test results, including any EMG and nerve conduction studies.
- History. How the injury happened, what treatment you had and what still limits you.
- Measurement. Range of motion, strength, sensation and reflexes, and other findings the rating guide calls for.
- Applying the guide. The physician applies the rating guide your claim requires to the findings.
- The report. The rating and the reasoning behind it go into a written report for the carrier, OWCP or the Longshore district office.
A careful rating depends on complete records. Because we treat patients from the first visit, their history is already in one chart when MMI comes.
Impairment ratings by claim type
Florida workers’ compensation
Permanent impairment is rated at MMI under the Florida Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule. The rating is used to determine whether impairment income benefits are owed. If the rating or MMI date is disputed, Florida law provides an independent medical examination (IME) process under F.S. 440.13(5), and you are allowed one change of physician on written request (F.S. 440.13(2)(f)). See our Florida workers’ comp page and our guide to returning to work.
Federal employees (OWCP schedule awards)
Under FECA, a schedule award is a benefit for permanent impairment of certain body parts or functions. It is rated at MMI using the AMA Guides, and the rating physician’s report goes to OWCP. Our federal workers’ comp page and OWCP forms guide explain the rest of the claim.
Longshore and harbor workers
Longshore claims also use the AMA Guides for impairment ratings. The district director supervises medical care in the claim (20 CFR 702.407). See our Longshore injury care page.
Candidly, a rating is a medical opinion based on findings on the day of the exam, and carriers sometimes ask for another opinion. We do not give legal advice. For questions about benefits, disputes or settlement, talk with an attorney.
How care is paid for: Most injury care at East Coast Injury Clinic is covered through one of four paths: auto insurance PIP after a car accident, a personal injury attorney’s Letter of Protection, state workers’ compensation for a work injury, or federal workers’ compensation (OWCP or Longshore) if you are a federal or maritime employee. We also see patients under Medicare, Tricare, VA Community Care, and a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains exactly what is and is not covered for your specific case, so there are no surprises. Call 904-513-3954 or visit eastcoastinjury.com to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point where further recovery from your injury is not expected, even with more treatment. It does not always mean you are pain-free. Claim systems use it as the point to assess any permanent impairment.
Not always. Your physician may recommend ongoing care after MMI to maintain function, and the carrier or OWCP decides what it will authorize. A condition that worsens later can be reevaluated.
An impairment rating is a physician’s measurement of permanent loss of function at MMI, expressed as a percentage. Florida workers’ comp uses the Florida Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule, and OWCP schedule awards and Longshore claims use the AMA Guides.
A schedule award is a FECA benefit for federal employees with permanent impairment of certain body parts or functions. It is rated at MMI using the AMA Guides, and OWCP decides the award.
Your physician reviews your records and imaging, asks about your remaining limits, and measures range of motion, strength, sensation and reflexes as the rating guide requires. The rating and its reasoning go into a written report.
Talk with an attorney about your options. In Florida workers’ comp, the law provides an independent medical examination process under F.S. 440.13(5), and you are allowed one change of physician on written request. We do not give legal advice.
Most injury care at East Coast Injury Clinic is covered through one of four paths: auto insurance PIP after a car accident, a personal injury attorney’s Letter of Protection, state workers’ compensation for a work injury, or federal workers’ compensation (OWCP or Longshore) if you are a federal or maritime employee. We also see patients under Medicare, Tricare, VA Community Care, and a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains exactly what is and is not covered for your specific case, so there are no surprises. Call 904-513-3954 or visit eastcoastinjury.com to start.
Questions about MMI or a rating?
Call (904) 513-3954 or contact us online. If you are already a patient, ask your treating provider about where you are in recovery. If you are new, our front desk will check whether your claim allows us to treat you.
Our physicians see work-injury patients at both Jacksonville clinics. Both clinics are in Duval County and are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM.
- Southside / Deerwood: 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256. In the Deerwood Park office area near J. Turner Butler Blvd (JTB), I-295 and Southside Blvd, a short drive from the St. Johns Town Center area. Convenient for Southside, Deerwood, Baymeadows, Arlington, Mandarin, San Jose and the Beaches.
- North Jacksonville: 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218. On N Main St north of I-295, convenient for the Northside, Oceanway and the JAX airport area.
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The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary. East Coast Injury Clinic’s services may not be appropriate for every condition or patient. Please consult a licensed healthcare professional to determine whether these services are right for your specific situation. Information provided about insurance, PIP, workers’ compensation, OWCP, or Longshore coverage is general and is not legal advice. For legal questions related to a claim, consult a licensed attorney.
East Coast Injury Clinic | 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218 | 904-513-3954 | eastcoastinjury.com
East Coast Injury Clinic: Serving Jacksonville and Duval County
Two Jacksonville clinics, one injury team: Southside at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, and North Jacksonville at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302.