Bill > SF454

This bill modifies the standards for determining permanent partial disability in workers' compensation cases by updating how medical impairment guides are referenced and applied. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that the workers' compensation commissioner formally adopt the American Medical Association (AMA) guides by rule and instead mandates the use of the "most recent annual update to the most recent edition" of the AMA guides. The bill ensures that medical professionals and workers' compensation administrators will use the latest version of the impairment evaluation guidelines when assessing permanent partial disability claims. The changes apply to all extent of loss or percentage of permanent impairment determinations made on or after the bill's effective date. The bill maintains the current framework for calculating compensation, which is based on 80% of an employee's average weekly earnings, with specific maximum and minimum weekly benefit amounts. Importantly, the bill continues to require that functional disability assessments be determined solely by the AMA guidelines, prohibiting the use of lay testimony or agency expertise in making these determinations.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF454