What Does an IRE Request Mean?
Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, once an injured worker receives total disability benefits for 104 weeks, the insurer can request an Independent Rating Evaluation, or IRE. When they do, you will receive an LIBC form called “Request for Designation of a Physician to Perform an Impairment Rating Evaluation”. An independent doctor is assigned by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to perform an exam. The doctor then uses the American Medical Association’s Guides to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to determine the degree of your impairment. If the doctor decides you have an impairment rating less than 50%, your benefit status is changed from total disability to partial disability. This means that you can only receive wage loss benefits for 500 weeks. Other factors can change how your wage loss benefits last (link: http://www.pa-workers-comp-lawyers.com/how-long-will-my-pennsylvania-workers-compensation-wage-loss-benefits-last). If the doctor determines that you have an impairment rating of more than 50%, your wage loss benefits can continue indefinitely. You can challenge or appeal the IRE doctor’s impairment rating evaluation, but only during a certain period of time.
If you have questions regarding your workers’ compensation benefits, it is important that you have an experienced Harrisburg workers’ compensation attorney on your side. Call Calhoon & Associates at 877-291-9675, for more information.
An employee who suffers a work injury is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, the employer is required to have workers’ compensation insurance and you are entitled to prompt payment of medical bills related to the work injury, along with compensation for loss of income and/or loss of use of hearing, vision, and most extremities. An injured worker is entitled to these benefits regardless of who is at fault for the injury and regardless of any pre-existing condition. A Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney at calhoon & associates can help determine if you are entitled to Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits or receiving inadequate benefits by the workers’ compensation insurance company or employer. Call calhoon & associates at (877) 291-9675 for a FREE, confidential and prompt consultation with one of our attorneys with a proven track record of success. To order your free Book “Seven Deadly Sins That Can Destroy Your Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Case”, go to www.workinjuryinpa.com and fill out the complimentary free book request or you can order it through Amazon.com.
The law firm of Calhoon & Associates represents injured workers and those seeking Social Security Disability throughout Pennsylvania, including but not limited to, Altoona, Harrisburg, Pottsville, Allentown, Reading, Bloomsburg, Easton, Bethlehem, Norristown, Bristol, Williamsport, State College, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Lancaster, Waynesboro, York and all cities in Bucks County, Chester County, Columbia County, Dauphin County, Delaware County, Lackawanna County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County, Luzerne County, Lycoming County, Montgomery County, Monroe County, Montour County, Northampton County, Northumberland County, Philadelphia County, Pike County, Schuylkill County, Wyoming County and York County, PA. Our offices are located at 2411 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA and 14 North Main Street, Suite 300, Chambersburg, PA, and we can arrange for meeting locations at law offices throughout the State.
Calhoon & Associates2411 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
1-877-291-9675
14 North Main Street
Suite 309
Chambersburg, PA 17201
1-877-291-9675
