N.D. Admin. Code 92-01-02-25

Current through Supplement No. 395, January, 2025

Section 92-01-02-25 - Permanent impairment evaluations and disputes

1. Definitions:

a. Amputations and loss as used in subsection 11 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05-12.2.

"Amputation of a thumb" means disarticulation at the metacarpal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the second or distal phalanx of the thumb" means disarticulation at or proximal to the interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the first finger" means disarticulation at the metacarpal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the middle or second phalanx of the first finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the third or distal phalanx of the first finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the second finger" means disarticulation at the metacarpal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the middle or second phalanx of the second finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the third or distal phalanx of the second finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the third finger" means disarticulation at the metacarpal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the middle or second phalanx of the third finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the fourth finger" means disartriculation at the metacarpal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the middle or second phalanx of the fourth finger" means disarticulation at or proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the leg at the hip" means disarticulation at or distal to the hip joint (separation of the head of the femur from the acetabulum).

"Amputation of the leg at or above the knee" means disarticulation at or proximal to the knee joint (separation of the femur from the tibia).

"Amputation of the leg at or above the ankle" means disarticulation at or proximal to the ankle joint (separation of the tibia from the talus).

"Amputation of a great toe" means disarticulation at the metatarsal phalangeal joint.

"Amputation of the second or distal phalanx of the great toe" means disarticulation at or proximal to the interphalangeal joint.

"Amputation of any other toe" means disarticulation at the metatarsal phalangeal joint.

"Loss of an eye" means enucleation of the eye.

b. "Maximum medical improvement" means the injured employee's recovery has progressed to the point where substantial further improvement is unlikely, based on reasonable medical probability and clinical findings indicate the medical condition is stable.

c. "Medical dispute" means an employee has reached maximum medical improvement in connection with a work injury and has been evaluated for permanent impairment, and there is a disagreement between health care providers arising from the physical evaluation that affects the amount of the award. The dispute to be reviewed must clearly summarize the underlying medical condition. It does not include disputes regarding proper interpretation or application of the American medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, sixth edition. It does not include disputes arising from an impairment percentage rating or an impairment opinion given by a health care provider when the health care provider is not trained in the American medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, sixth edition, and when the health care provider's impairment percentage rating or impairment opinion do not meet the requirements of subsection 5 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05-12.2.

d. "Potentially eligible for an impairment award" means the medical evidence in the claim file indicates an injured employee has reached maximum medical improvement and has a permanent impairment caused by the work injury that will likely result in a monetary impairment award.

e. "Treating health care provider" means an allied health care professional who has physically examined or provided direct care or treatment to the injured employee.

2. Permanent impairment evaluations must be performed in accordance with the American medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, sixth edition, and modified by this section. All permanent impairment reports must include the opinion of the health care provider on the cause of the impairment and must contain an apportionment if the impairment is caused by both work-related and non-work-related injuries or conditions.

3. The organization shall schedule an evaluation with a health care provider who has the training and experience necessary to conduct an evaluation of permanent impairment and apply the American medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, sixth edition. The organization may not use nor consider a permanent impairment evaluation conducted by the employee's treating health care provider or any health care provider who has treated the injured employee for the work-related injury. In the event of a medical dispute, the organization will identify qualified specialists and submit all objective medical documentation regarding the dispute to specialists who have the knowledge, training, and experience in the application of the American medical association guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, sixth edition.

4. Upon receiving a permanent impairment rating report from the health care provider, the organization shall audit the report and shall issue a decision awarding or denying permanent impairment benefits.

a. Pain impairment ratings. A permanent impairment award may not be made upon a rating solely under chapter 3 of the sixth edition.

b. Mental and behavioral disorders are not independently compensable and are encompassed within the rating for physical impairment.

c. In chapters that include assessment of the functional history as one of the nonkey factors to adjust the final impairment rating within a class by using a self-report tool, the examining health care provider is to score the self-report tool and assess results for consistency and credibility before adjusting the impairment rating higher or lower than the default value. The evaluating health care provider must provide rationale for deciding that functional test results are clinically consistent and credible.

d. A functional history grade modifier may be applied only to the single, highest diagnosis-based impairment.

e. All permanent impairment reports must include an apportionment if the impairment is caused by both work and non-work injuries or conditions.

5. Pollicization procedures will be rated as an impairment under subsection 11 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05-12.2, relating to scheduled injury, and may not be rated as a whole body impairment, unless otherwise specified under subsection 11 of North Dakota Century Code section 65-05-12.2.

N.D. Admin Code 92-01-02-25

Effective November 1, 1991; amended effective January 1, 1996; April 1, 1997; May 1, 1998; May 1, 2000; May 1, 2002; July 1, 2004; July 1, 2006; April 1, 2009; July 1, 2010; April 1, 2012.

Amended by Administrative Rules Supplement 2017-365, July 2017, effective 7/1/2017.

Amended by Administrative Rules Supplement 367, January 2018, effective 1/1/2018.

Amended by Administrative Rules Supplement 376, April 2020, effective 4/1/2020.

Amended by Administrative Rules Supplement 2023-391, January 2024, effective 1/1/2024.

General Authority: NDCC 65-02-08

Law Implemented: NDCC 65-05-12.2