WILLIAMS V. FEI INSTALLATION
WORKERS COMPENSATION – Future Medical Benefits
2005-CA-000653
PUBLISHED
AFFIRMING IN PART,
REVERSING IN PART, AND REMANDING (JOHNSON)
DATE: 3/10/2006
The claimant suffered an injury to his elbow which caused numbness in his fingers. The ALJ found that there was no permanent impairment under the AMA Guides, and refused to award expenses for medical treatment of the injury in the future. The Board affirmed, but the Court of Appeals reversed on that issue, finding that medical treatment must be awarded if the ALJ finds that there was a work related injury. This is a hot issue right now, as insurance companies are pushing to close out future liability for work related injuries. A bill was introduced in the current legislative session to limit payment of medical expenses to the 425 week period for payment of medicals, which appears to be lost in committee.
