ONLY PREPARATION COSTS OF REPORT ARE REIMBURSABLE WHEN 85.39 IME DATED SAME DATE AS EMPLOYER’S IME
In Swanson v. Pella Corp., an Iowa Workers’ Compensation Deputy Commissioner provided guidance on whether an employee-requested independent medical examination (IME) is reimbursable when both the employee’s and employer’s IMEs are dated the same date. Section 85.39 of...
REPLACEMENT RECLINERS IN IOWA ARE DEEMED APPLIANCES
Evilsizor v. Northern Ag Services, Inc. provides an example of how an employee did not meet his burden of proof when petitioning for alternate care. Section 85.27(4) of the Iowa Code provides that an employer has the right to choose a provider of care to treat the...
COMMISSIONER ORDERS ALL HEARINGS TO TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY IN PERPETUITY
On August 11, 2022, the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, Joseph S. Cortese II, issued an administrative order making all hearings virtual for the foreseeable future. Beginning October 29, 2022, all currently-scheduled hearings in contested cases before the...
IA MEDICAL INSURANCE OPT-OUT PAYMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE CALCULATION
In Markley v. J. Rettenmaier USA LP, the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner affirmed a Deputy Commissioner’s determination that employer-provided medical insurance opt-out payments should be included in an injured employee’s average weekly wage calculation....