by Karl Voigt
The Pennsylvania legislature has exerted its first effort to resurrect Impairment Rating Evaluations (IREs). These evaluations for years served to limit worker’s compensation wage loss benefits to 604 weeks, potentially leaving disabled workers with no source of income.
Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that IREs as enacted are unconstitutional. The result of this ruling is that exams are no longer performed and that benefits are no longer subject to the 604 week limit.
Naturally, litigation has ensued and carriers are pressuring lawmakers to bring the IRE process back.
The text of the bill can be found here. It is unknown how viable this proposed legislation is, considering the Commonwealth’s budget woes.
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