The Short Answer
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which your doctor determines your injury has healed as much as it ever will — even if you're not fully recovered. Once you reach MMI, your treating physician concludes that no further reasonable treatment will meaningfully improve your condition. At that point, your doctor will assign a disability rating that reflects the permanent impact of your injury. That rating plays a direct role in determining your workers' compensation settlement amount and any work restrictions placed on you going forward.
In its simplest form, maximum medical improvement or MMI, is the doctor’s way of saying “it’s as good as it’s going to get.” When an injury has occurred and the employee reaches a state where his or her condition cannot be improved, the doctor will inform the patient/client they have reached MMI. Once MMI is reached, the treating physician is saying no other reasonable treatment can be done to help the patient/client improve. Although, you may not be 100% better, you have reached a state where you have done everything you can do in that point in time. All of the treatment options should be exhausted before it is determined a patient has reached MMI.
If the patient is receiving workers compensation benefits and reaches MMI, his or her condition will be assessed, and the doctor will give a disability rating. Your attorney should request a written statement from your doctor when you have reached MMI, which should also contain your disability rating. Depending on the rating, the doctor will advise your employer on what tasks may or may not be performed, these are known as work restrictions. For example, if you have suffered a back injury but are able to return to work, your doctor may medically advise you to perform sit down or sedentary tasks. Since a back tends to get stiff after sitting down for long periods of time, the doctor may also advise you be able to hold a position where if necessary, you are able to stand up and work. Obviously, depending on your condition, it may be hard to hold a position that can do both, and the employer may not have a position where this is possible. The disability rating is important because depending on your condition, it is a key component in negotiating your settlement amount.
Generally speaking, if your case has not been settled and your injury worsens within 2 years after reaching MMI, you should go back to your doctor. You should not suffer through the pain because you are afraid to go, it’s important to let the doctor know of your condition. The doctor will medically determine whether your condition has worsened or not and if further treatment is necessary.
If you are not happy with your doctor’s evaluation when they feel you have reached maximum medical improvement, you are entitled to a second opinion. However, before you proceed you should consult a workers’ compensation attorney who is able to guide you in the right direction.
Key Takeaways
- MMI does not mean you are fully healed — it means your condition has stabilized and further treatment is unlikely to produce meaningful improvement.
- Once you reach MMI, your doctor will assign a disability rating that your attorney should obtain in writing, along with any documented work restrictions.
- Your disability rating is a key factor in negotiating your workers' compensation settlement, so understanding it matters before you agree to anything.
- If your condition worsens within two years after reaching MMI, return to your doctor immediately — do not wait out of fear or assume the case is closed.
- You have the right to seek a second opinion if you disagree with your doctor's MMI determination, but consult a workers' compensation attorney first to protect your claim.
