Effective February 1, 2024, the cost of a PPD evaluation for 2 body parts rose from $911.26 to $950.04.

Every year the Nevada Medical Fee Schedule changes in February. These changes dictate what doctors can charge the workers’ compensation insurer for different services.  A copy of the current Nevada Medical Fee Schedule can be found here. (Summary below)

PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY REIMBURSEMENT
Nevada Specific Codes:

• NV01000 Review records, testing, evaluation, and report (includes evaluation of up to 2 body parts) $950.04
• NV01001 Failure of an injured employee to appear for appointment  $317.29
• NV01002 Addendum necessary to clarify original report  No charge
• NV01003 Addendum after review of additional medical records  $317.29
• NV01004 Review of medical records and evaluation of each additional body part in excess of initial 2 body parts  $317.29
• NV01005 Organization of medical records in chronological order based on the date of service per 50 pages $53.51 
• NV01006 Review of records and report $474.08 *Nevada Specific Code
• NV01001 may only be billed if an injured employee is more than 30 minutes late for a scheduled appointment or cancels the appointment less than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. The medical records must be in a printable format and include a cover sheet indicating the number of pages provided to the physician or chiropractor. All medical records are to be provided to the evaluator in chronological order based on date of service. 

Separating chronologically organized therapy notes is acceptable. For the purpose of establishing the maximum allowable payment for the review of medical records and the evaluation of musculoskeletal body parts, the following constitute one body part:

1. The cervical spine 
2. The thoracic spine 
3. The lumbar spine 
4. The pelvis 
5. The left upper extremity, excluding the left hand 
6. The right upper extremity, excluding the right hand 
7. The left hand, including that portion below the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the left forearm 
8. The right hand, including that portion below the junction of the middle and lower third of the right forearm 
9. The left lower extremity 
10. The right lower extremity 
11. The head 
12. The trunk 
13. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Impairments (NRS 616C.180) 

Why would an Injured Worker Have to Pay for a PPD Rating Out-of-Pocket?

Two of the most common reasons an injured worker may have to pay for a rating out-of-pocket include:

• • Situations in which the insurer is attempting to close the claim without a rating;
  • And when the injured worker disagrees with the resulting percentage from a prior rating evaluation.

Why you should contact an Attorney if your Workers Comp Claim is being closed without a PPD Evaluation

It used to be that an injured worker had to pay for a PPD exam when the insurer closed the claim without a PPD. This is no longer the case. An attorney can usually get a PPD exam without the cost being paid by the injured worker, however, time deadlines may still hinder that ability.  Do not hesitate to contact an attorney if your claim is being closed without a PPD evaluation.

If you believe your claim has been unfairly closed without a rating, or that you had an inaccurate rating evaluation, consult an experienced attorney in order to weight the pros and cons of paying the hefty out-of-pocket expense necessary to get a rating yourself. I will review your PPD report free of charge.

Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about your Nevada workers’ compensation claim.

Mileage reimbursement is one of the under-used benefits that injured workers are entitled to. Not everyone qualifies, but if you do take advantage of it and get your reimbursement.

Nevada Workers’ Compensation Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increase 2024

Effective January 1, 2024, the mileage reimbursement rate for Nevada workers compensation related travel has been increased from 65.5 cents per mile in 2023 to 67.0 cents per mile in 2024. See the Division of Industrial Relations’ memorandum here.

Mileage Reimbursement Benefits an Injured Worker is Eligible to Receive for Medical Travel

Injured workers are eligible for mileage allowance under NAC 616C.150. Mileage is eligible for reimbursement if the injured worker is:

1. Traveling to a doctor’s appointment related to his or her workers compensation claim (this includes physical therapy);
2. Is using a private vehicle;
3. And travels 20 miles or more one way, or 40 miles or more within one week.

D-26 Application for Reimbursement of Claim Travel Related Expenses Form

In order for your mileage to be reimbursed for eligible travel expenses, the injured worker must fill out a D-26 Application for Reimbursement of Claim Related Travel Expenses and submit it to the adjuster.

• Mileage expenses must be submitted within 60 days of the travel date.

Tips / Best Practices when requesting mileage reimbursement for your Nevada Workers’ Compensation claim

There are a couple of things you can do to make mileage reimbursement as simple as possible for yourself, as well as your adjuster.

• Fill out one reimbursement form for each month. Submitting multiple forms at separate times throughout the month makes it more difficult for your adjuster to calculate the expenses and may delay your reimbursement check.
• Use Google Maps, Bing Maps, Waze, or other popular mapping app to calculate the mileage. Your adjuster will double check the distance using one of these sites.
• When following up with your adjuster for mileage reimbursement check, have a copy of the request on hand. Knowing the dates that the request covered will help your adjuster know exactly which expenses you are referring to. Keep in mind that the insurance company has 30 days to issue a mileage reimbursement check. Generally, the check goes out in the mail the day after it is issued.

Why an Injured Worker Should Seek Mileage Reimbursement when filing a NV Work Comp Claim.

Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about your Nevada workers’ compensation claim.

Jason H. Weinstock is an experience Nevada Workers’ Compensation Attorney.  His office is located in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, minutes from the Las Vegas strip.

Why would an Injured Worker Have to Pay for a PPD Rating Out-of-Pocket?

Two of the most common reasons an injured worker may have to pay for a rating out-of-pocket include:

• Situations in which the insurer is attempting to close the claim without a rating;
• And when the injured worker disagrees with the resulting percentage from a prior rating evaluation.

Why you should contact an Attorney if your Workers Comp Claim is being closed without a PPD Evaluation

It used to be that an injured worker had to pay for a PPD exam when the insurer closed the claim without a PPD. This is no longer the case. An attorney can usually get a PPD exam without the cost being paid by the injured worker, however, time deadlines may still hinder that ability.  Do not hesitate to contact an attorney if your claim is being closed without a PPD evaluation. If you believe your claim has been unfairly closed without a rating, or that you had an inaccurate rating evaluation, consult an experienced attorney in order to weight the pros and cons of paying the hefty out-of-pocket expense necessary to get a rating yourself. I will review your PPD report free of charge.

Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about your Nevada workers’ compensation claim.

Effective January 1, 2022, the mileage reimbursement rate for Nevada workers compensation related travel has been increased from 58.5 cents per mile to 65.5 cents per mile. See the Division of Industrial Relations’ memorandum.

What Mileage Reimbursement Benefit is an Injured Worker Eligible to Receive for Medical Travel?

Injured workers are eligible for mileage allowance under NAC 616C.150. Mileage is eligible for reimbursement if the injured worker is:

1. Traveling to a doctor’s appointment related to his or her workers compensation claim (this includes physical therapy);
2. Is using a private vehicle;
3. And travels 20 miles or more one way, or 40 miles or more within one week.

D-26 Application for Reimbursement of Claim Travel Related Expenses Form

In order for your mileage to be reimbursed for eligible travel expenses, the injured worker must fill out a D-26 Application for Reimbursement of Claim Related Travel Expenses and submit it to the adjuster. Mileage expenses must be submitted within 60 days of the travel date.

Tips / Best Practices when requesting mileage reimbursement for your Nevada Workers’ Compensation claim

There are a couple of things you can do to make mileage reimbursement as simple as possible for yourself, as well as your adjuster.

• Fill out one reimbursement form for each month. Submitting multiple forms at separate times throughout the month makes it more difficult for your adjuster to calculate the expenses, and may delay your reimbursement check.
• Use Google Maps, Bing Maps, Waze, or other popular mapping app to calculate the mileage. Your adjuster will double check the distance using one of these sites.
• When following up with your adjuster for mileage reimbursement check, have a copy of the request on hand. Knowing the dates that the request covered will help your adjuster know exactly which expenses you are referring to. Keep in mind that the insurance company has 30 days to issue a mileage reimbursement check. Generally, the check goes out in the mail the day after it is issued.

Why an Injured Worker Should Seek Mileage Reimbursement when filing your NV Work Comp Claim Mileage reimbursement is one of the under-used benefits that injured workers are entitled to. Not everyone qualifies, but if you do take advantage of it and get your reimbursement.

Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about your Nevada workers’ compensation claim.

Jason H. Weinstock is an experience Nevada Workers’ Compensation Attorney.  His office is located in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, minutes from the Las Vegas strip.

Why is the Average Monthly Wage Calculation important to Injured Workers?

Average Monthly Wage if a Claim is ever Reopened.

Nevada Workers' Compensation: How to Calculate the Average Monthly Wage

Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about your Nevada workers' compensation claim.

In Nevada, employers must provide workers' compensation insurance for employees injured on the job. This coverage provides medical care, disability payments, and other benefits to injured workers.

Workers compensation claims are filed when an employee gets injured on the job.

This includes things like muscular & skeletal injuries, car accidents while in the course and scope of employment, slip and falls, and other injuries caused by workplace hazards. 

If an employee suffers injuries while at work, he or she has several options for seeking compensation:

1. 1. The worker can file a claim with his or her employer's insurer
      (In Nevada an injured worker cannot sue their employer for injuries sustained at work as workers’ compensation is an exclusive remedy.) The injured workers’ remedy is to file a claim for workers’ compensation through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. For more information on Exclusive Remedy and workers compensation, read my blog posts titled Can I Have A Workers Compensation and Personal Injury Claim and What Does Workers' Compensation Being an Exclusive Remedy Mean?
   2. The worker can also pursue a third-party lawsuit against another company or individual who caused the accident 
      For example, if in a car accident while working or a ladder manufacturer if the ladder was defective. Not every workers’ compensation claim will have a third-party option.

How do I know which lawyer I should hire?

Personal injury attorneys often handle car accidents, dog bites, premise liability (slip and falls on another’s property), and injuries that occur because of a faulty product. Some personal injury attorneys do represent injured workers, however, attorneys who exclusively handle workers compensation law are more experienced in work injury law and devote their entire practice to injured workers.

In cases where you can file two claims, one for workers’ compensation benefits and one against a third-party, it can be very beneficial to have both a personal injury attorney and a workers’ compensation attorney. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can assess whether you may have an additional claim against a third-party and point you in the right direction to a competent personal injury attorney that can assist with the third-party claim.

 Give me a call or send an email for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about a possible workers' compensation claim.

Workplace safety is important for everyone. It doesn't matter if you work at an office, warehouse, restaurant, construction site, hospital, or other public service position like police or firefighters, work injuries happen.

Here are some of the most common work injuries:

Car Accidents During Work Related Activities

If you’ve been involved in a car accident while driving for a work related reason, you may be able to receive workers compensation. It can be complicated, so you will want to talk with an attorney to see if your vehicle accident qualifies you to file a workers comp claim. Driving your vehicle for a specific work task, such as:

• Driving to and from a worksite
• Delivery or making a delivery for work
• Driving another employee for business purposes
• Running work-related errands

However, keep in mind that car accidents that occur during a commute is not covered in a workers compensation claim. If you have a driving job, like taxi-cab driver, truck driver, or parcel delivery driver there are even more ways injuries happen while driving and it's best to consult with an experienced workers compensation attorney if you've been hurt or in a car accident while on the job.

Slips, Trips & Falls at Work

A slip and fall work injury happens when an individual trips or falls while walking, running, or standing during the hours of employment. This type of injury often occurs because of slippery surfaces or uneven ground. Slip and fall injuries can occur anywhere, such as inside a building or outside on a sidewalk. Did you know that slips, trips, and falls cause nearly 700 fatalities per year and many more injurious accident in the workplace according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

Burns from a Work Accident

Burns are one of the most common workplace injuries. They can cause serious damage to skin tissue, resulting in scarring and even death. If you sustain a burn, seek medical attention immediately. Download the "Preventing Burns from Hot Stuff" from the OSHA Website.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Sprains & Strains While Working

Workers in many different industries and occupations can be exposed to risk factors at work, such as lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body postures and performing the same or similar tasks repetitively. Exposure to these known risk factors for MSDs increases a worker's risk of injury. These muscular disorders can range from mild to severe, and can occur at any age. This includes sprains of the ankle, knee, neck or back. 

Work-Related Back Pain or Injury

Back injuries result from damage, wear, or trauma to the bones, muscles, or other tissues of the back. Back disorders can develop gradually as a result of micro-trauma brought about by repetitive activity over time or can be the product of a single traumatic event. Back pain injury from work is one of the most common reasons people visit doctors. The question is though, is your back pain work related or not?

If you’ve suffered from one of these most common work injuries, know your benefits and if you are entitled to compensation.

Contact Attorney Weinstock to ask a question or for a free consultation. Attorney Weinstock will talk with you and help you to understand the workers compensation law and if you should file a claim.