Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Hickey Powerpoint
Hickey Powerpoint
Termination for Fault, Control of Medical Treatment, PreExisting Conditions and other Statutory Changes
Presented by:
under this Act is compensable if work causes, contributes to, or aggravates pathology in a manner so as to create a pathology that is medically distinguishable from any pathology that existed prior to the injury.
DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS
MCL 418.301(2) and MCL 418.401(2)(b): Mental disabilities and conditions of the aging process, including but not limited to heart and cardiovascular conditions and degenerative arthritis are compensable if contributed to or aggravated or accelerated by the employment in a significant manner.
MENTAL DISABILITIES
MCL 418.301(2) and MCL 418.401(2)(b): Mental disabilities are compensable if arising out of actual events of employment, not unfounded perceptions thereof, and if the employees
currently eligible to receive if the employee has suffered total and permanent disability and has reached full retirement age, pursuant to a plan or
program established or maintained by the same employer from whom benefits. . . are received, if the employee did not contribute directly to the pension or retirement plan or program.
COORDINATION OF EMPLOYERFUNDED RETIREMENT BENEFITS MCL 418.354(1)(d) MCL 418.354(16) provides that the coordination of benefits section does not apply to payments made to an employee as a result of liability pursuant to a specific loss or total and permanent disability provisions of the statute. This provision is inconsistent with the amended provision.
The affect of any internal joint replacement surgery, internal implant, or other similar medical procedure, shall be considered in determining whether a specific loss has occurred.
Nullifies Trammel v Consumers Power Co., 2009 ACO #126 (holding that a total knee joint replacement surgery constituted a specific loss of the leg, entitling employee to 250 weeks of specific loss benefits even though employee returned to unrestricted work).
ELIMINATION OF MEDIATION
MCL 418.223, provided for mediation in closed period, medical only, unrepresented claimant, and smaller claims. It was deleted by the statutory amendments. MCL 418.847(3) allows mediation by the parties if the Agency or MAHS determines a case may be resolved by mediation. If it cannot be resolved by mediation, it shall be set for trial .
compensation is paid pursuant to an award of a workers compensation magistrate, an arbitrator, the Board, the Appellate Commission, or a Court, interest on the compensation shall be paid at the rate of 10% per annum from the date each payment was due, until paid. MCL
418.801(6)
INTEREST ON AWARDS
Amended provision:
. . . interest on the compensation shall be paid at a rate calculated in the same manner as interest on a money judgment in a civil action under 6013(8) of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, . . . MCL 600.6013.
SUBPOENAS
MCL 418.853 now allows attorneys to sign subpoenas with the full force and effect of magistrates. Does the subpoena power apply to dates of injury prior to 12/19/11? Will medical facilities honor the subpoenas?
REDEMPTION BY STIPULATION
MCL 418.836(2) provides that the parties may stipulate in writing that the statutory requirements have been met and request the Magistrate to waive the redemption hearing. The Magistrate may approve the proposed stipulations or may conduct a hearing. Redemptions by Affidavit in Lieu of personal Appearance have required a hearing in the past.
REDEMPTION BY STIPULATION Pitfalls associated with performing redemptions by stipulation without a hearing: Complex issues Malpractice prophylaxis Medicare, Medicaid, and Friend of the Court issues May encourage and/or increase redemption appeals
DETERMINING EMPLOYMENT STATUS If the employer is required to withhold Federal income tax for an individual, the individual is prima facie considered to be an employee Prior MAHS determinations of coverage are precedential as to similarly situated individuals
RETROACTIVITY
MCL 418.301 and 418.401 are retroactive to June 30, 1985, according to MCL 418.301(14) and MCL 418.401(10) Amendments to MCL 418.161(1)(n) regarding employees versus independent contractors is not effective until 01/01/13 The rest of the statutory amendment are effective 12/19/11 Relevant inquiry: Did the injury date occur before or after the effective date?