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. […]
Independent Medical Examination and the Effect It Can Have on a Work Comp Claim
What is an independent medical examination? An independent medical examination, or IME, is performed by a doctor at the request of an insurance company in a workers’ compensation case. Despite the title this medical examination will not be independent. The exam will not be conducted by a neutral third-party doctor, rather it will be performed by […]
Minnesota First Responder COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Presumption Statute – What We Know and What We Don’t
As Minnesota first responders may know, the Minnesota legislature recently passed legislation to create a workers’ compensation statutory presumption for those individuals who contract COVID-19 while performing first responder duties (Minn. Stat. § 176.011). Hopefully, this legislation will serve to provide immediate workers’ compensation medical expense and wage loss coverage for our State’s first responders who are at greatest […]
Beyond Policy Limits
If you own a vehicle in the State of Minnesota, you are required to carry some level of automobile insurance. The State’s minimum is $30,000 for bodily injury per person/$60,000 for bodily injury per accident. So, what does this mean? If you sustain an injury from a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence or fault of […]
New COVID-19 Legislation for Minnesota’s First Responders
In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, our state government has taken swift and decisive action to financially protect Minnesota’s first responders who contract the virus. Governor Tim Walz signed into law a revision to the Minnesota’s workers’ compensation statute that creates a presumption that COVID-19 is a work-related occupational disease for first responders. This revision increases […]
The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 3
Will my case be delayed due to Coronavirus? Now that “social distancing” and “flatten the curve” have become part of the collective consciousness, many employees are asking how the efforts to contain Covid-19 will impact their pending workers’ compensation case. Here is an overview of what to expect. E-filing will continue, but expect disruptions and delays in […]
The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 2
Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) may be cancelled or delayed One of the most immediate impacts on pending workers’ compensation cases is that Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs) and Independent Psychological Evaluations (IPEs) that have already been scheduled, are now being cancelled. Given the CDC’s guidance regarding social distancing, encouraging people to maintain 6-feet of distance between one another, it […]
The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 1
Will I still get paid? Whether or not you continue to get paid wage-loss benefits will vary case-by-case depending on your situation. A description of the most common situations is included below. The attorneys at Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. are available throughout the crisis, via phone and email, to answer any questions you have about the impact that […]
Employee Who Separates from Date of Injury Employer Due to PERA Duty Disability Remains Entitled to Wage Loss Benefits
Accepting an award of PERA Duty Disability Benefits does not prevent firefighters, police officers, deputy sheriffs, and corrections officers from receiving wage loss benefits, including temporary partial disability benefits under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act. A member approved for PERA Duty Disability benefits must separate from his or her position covered under the applicable plan, Police and Fire or Corrections, before receiving benefits. […]
Can I Move to Another State While Collecting Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
I have been asked many times by injured employees, “Can I move out of state? Will this affect my Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits?” The answer I always give my clients is it depends. And, it truly does depend on a number of factors, including the location of the move and the type of benefits involved. But, we […]