Silent Epidemic: An In-Depth Look at Firefighters and PTSD
Meuser, Yackley & Rowland takes pride in the support we offer to Minnesota’s firefighters, through a variety of ways. Currently, we are involved with the creation and production of a documentary as Executive Sponsor. Working closely with two-time regional Emmy-Award winning Writer-Director, Joe Carlini, has been an honor. We look forward to the completed film […]
We All Have Days
Forward by Ron Meuser, Jr. Jen Yackley and I originally met with Dana (who wrote the story below), her husband Ed and his service dog Rex to hear their story and learn how I can help. They founded an organization called Soldier’s 6 whose mission is to provide honorable discharged veterans, police officers, and firefighters […]
Reporting an Injury
To offer a different perspective on the subject of injury reporting, we turned to our Legal Analyst with the firm, Vanessa Washington. Vanessa has extensive experience in the insurance industry with a focus on workers’ compensation. Vanessa’s primary role with Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. is to support the attorneys by analyzing the value of […]
Heroes Helping Heroes
Forward by Ron Meuser, Jr. Chris Steward, retired Minneapolis Police Sergeant and Founder of Heroes Helping Heroes, was granted a medical disability retirement in 2021 after 14+ years with the City of Minneapolis. Heroes Helping Heroes provides non-medical support to first responders who suffer with mental illness, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Heroes Helping Heroes […]
Thinking About Quitting? Think Again.
Injured workers often ask, “If I cannot do my job, because of my work injury, should I just quit?” This is a trick question. Workers’ compensation provides wage-loss benefits for injured workers, who are unable to return to suitable gainful employment as a result of their work-related injuries. But, if you quit your job, then […]
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Police Officers
On January 1, 2019, a new law went into effect that may drastically change the way work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims are handled in Minnesota. For PTSD injuries that occur on or after January 1, 2019, there is a presumption for first responders that their PTSD is work-related. The PTSD presumption applies to licensed police officers, […]
The Option to Medical Out Instead of Retiring Under PERA
Police officers pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). PERA offers a number of benefits to police officers who pay into PERA, one of which is a regular retirement pension. Under PERA once an officer reaches age 55 with at least 20 years of service they are eligible for a full pension which is 60% […]
Is an EMT Who Contracts COVID-19 Covered Under Minnesota Workers’ Compensation?
Working as a paramedic, EMT or EMS poses inherent dangers, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. As part of your duties, you are required to go into homes that are not your own and administer hands-on medical assistance to individuals in need. The Minnesota legislature acknowledged these inherent risks and recently passed HF 4537. Effective April 8, 2020, […]
Managed Medical Review Organization
As part of the PERA application process, your application gets submitted to Managed Medical Review Organization (MMRO). They are a third-party company that PERA contracts with to review all of your medical records with them. Once they receive your application, they will review your medical records, and determine whether or not you sustained a […]
Are Minnesota Nurses Who Contract Coronavirus Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?
As Coronavirus-related restrictions phase-out, more Minnesotans, including a significant number of healthcare workers, including nurses, are contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19). In fact, on May 20, 2020, the Star Tribune reported that “health care workers constitute 1,949 of Minnesota’s 17,029 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.” [1] Minnesota nurses, from Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis to St. […]