The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry sponsored its 2nd Annual Workers’ Compensation Policy Summit June 14 through 16, 2010, at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, Minn. The program featured various speakers and multiple breakout sessions concerning issues surrounding the Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system. The conference program can be found here.
Keynote speakers at the program included:
- Kevin Warren, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer Minnesota Vikings, Eden Prairie, Minn;
- Jeffrey Jacobs, Mayor St. Louis Park, Minn;
- Doug Huseby, Chief Executive Officer Becker Furniture World, Becker Minn; and
- Matthew Monsein, M.D., Medical Director Courage Center’s Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program, Golden Valley, Minn.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are proposing certain amendments to the rules governing workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation under Minnesota Rules, parts 5220. 0100 to 5220.1900
The Rehabilitation Review Panel (RRP) held a special meeting on Fri., June 4, 2010, at 1 p.m. to discuss proposed changes to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Vocational Rehabilitation. A draft of the proposed rules can be found here.
When you have a work related injury, sometimes all you need is a little help to get back on our feet. That is one of the reasons why rehabilitation services are offered to injured workers through Minnesota workers’ compensation. If you are injured at work, you may be eligible for rehabilitation services if you are in need of medical management and/or help returning to work because of your injury.
The general purpose of rehabilitation is to help injured workers to return to their former employment or to modified employment that will bring them as close as possible to their pre-injury economic status.
Rehabilitation services are provided through the help of a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC). A QRC can help with modifying an existing job to your restrictions, assisting with a job search with a new employer and possibly retraining for a new job.
If rehabilitation services are thought to be helpful, you are to request an initial consultation with a QRC.
An initial rehabilitation consultation is to be provided to you upon request. Once a consultation is requested, the employer must provide a QRC unless a waiver is filed by the employer.
You have a right to choose a QRC at the beginning of rehabilitation services or within 60 days following the filing of the rehabilitation plan.
If you are having problems getting rehabilitation services contact an attorney and/or the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
If you are completely off of work due to an occupational injury or disease, you may be entitled to temporary total disability (TTD) benefits for that period of time you are disabled. However, you are also required to conduct a “diligent” job search during that period of time unless the job search would be futile, you are completely off of work and/or the employer is planning on returning you to the date of injury employment.
TTD benefits are found when the employee’s physical condition, together with his training, experience, and type of work available in his community cause the employee to be unable to obtain anything but sporadic employment at an insubstantial wage. Incidentally, Temporary benefits can be discontinued if the employee does not conduct a diligent job search.
