Program overview
The Board's 2018 SLU guidelines apply when a claimant reaches MMI; examiners measure active range of motion and compare to the contralateral side where applicable. The doctor reports MMI and permanent impairment on Form C-4.3.
MMI definition
12 NYCRR 324.1 defines MMI as the point where the claimant has recovered to the greatest extent expected and no further improvement is reasonably expected; in non-surgery/non-fracture cases MMI cannot be found before 6 months from injury.
New York runs a IME / SLU programme and rates on state schedule, not ama (2018 SLU guidelines). The rating standard is set by the jurisdiction, not by the examiner, so the same clinical findings can produce different numbers across the 10 states profiled here.
Key facts
| Program | IME / SLU |
| Agency | New York Workers' Compensation Board |
| Statute / rules | 12 NYCRR 324; 12 NYCRR 325-1.6 |
| AMA Guides edition | Not AMA-based (New York SLU guidelines) |
| Edition basis | 2018 Guidelines for Determining Permanent Impairment and Loss of Wage Earning Capacity |
| MMI rules | MMI defined at 12 NYCRR 324.1; no MMI before 6 months for non-surgical/non-fracture cases |
| Key forms | Form C-4.3 (Doctor's Report of MMI/Permanent Impairment) |
| Fee schedule | WCB medical fee schedule (verify current) |
| Telehealth | Not confirmed |
