Who typically determines the Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) for an injured worker?

The determination of Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is a critical aspect of workers' compensation cases, as it marks the point at which an injured worker's medical condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve significantly with further medical intervention. The treating physician is the professional who is most familiar with the specific medical needs and recovery progress of the injured worker. This physician conducts examinations, assesses treatment results, and evaluates the overall condition of the patient to arrive at the MMI decision.

The treating physician's role involves understanding the nuances of the worker's injury, including how it has responded to treatments, what limitations may remain, and what the prognosis looks like moving forward. This specialized knowledge is key to accurately determining MMI, as it may directly impact benefits, rehabilitation options, and return-to-work strategies for the injured individual.

In contrast, while other parties such as a medical board, an adjuster, or even the employer may have a stake in the case, they do not generally have the same level of direct clinical engagement with the injured worker's treatment. Thus, their assessments about MMI would lack the specific medical foundation that the treating physician provides.