Opinion ID: 1662181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: and a Return-to-Work Requirement

Text: It is likely that, when adding the concept of MMI to the workers' compensation scheme, the legislature was assuming that an injured employee who reached MMI would be able to return to work. Minn. Stat. § 176.101, subd. 3e is entitled End of temporary total compensation; suitable job. The subdivision, as a whole, contemplates return to work situations. It outlines the effect of a job offer, no job offer, refusal of a job offer and even provides what is to happen if the employee begins a job and then leaves. Despite the apparent statutory interrelationship between ability to return to work and MMI, the statute literally allows for MMI to be reached in a case where the employee cannot work; subdivision 3e(a) stops temporary total disability benefits 90 days after the employee reaches MMI and a report has been served. Judicially adding a return-to-work requirement to section 176.101, subdivision 3e(a) would ignore the fact that, in some cases, MMI may be reached ( i.e., no further significant recovery or lasting improvement can reasonably be anticipated), but the employee still cannot work. Generally, when MMI is attained, permanent disability benefits in the form of impairment compensation or economic recovery compensation would begin. However, by adding a return-to-work requirement, temporary total compensation would never end. By announcing a rule which would forbid an MMI finding where the employee cannot yet return to work, this court would be doing more than interpreting MMI; it would be adding another requirement not embodied in the clear language of the statute, which would be necessary before temporary total compensation may cease. This question we will leave for the legislature to resolve.