IMS Reference Committee to Review AMA's 6th Edition Guides to Impairment
August 17, 2012
A reference committee has been named and soon will be meeting to review a resolution now before the IMS Board of Directors proposing Iowa's adoption of the 6th edition of the AMA's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Currently, rules of Iowa's Workers Compensation Division continue to utilize the 5th edition Guides in determining permanent partial disabilities following recommendations of a 2008 task force convened by the commissioner to evaluate the pros and cons of moving to the 6th edition. The 6th edition was the result of several years of work and analysis and represents a shift from earlier editions of the Guides particularly in its utilization of the World Health Organization's model of disablement.
Several states have moved to the 6th edition as has the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation; other states continue to utilize the 4th or 5th editions of the Guides. Board Resolution 12-1 calls upon IMS to support the 6th edition and to seek legislative direction to utilize the 6th edition in Iowa workers compensation claims. IMS members are invited to submit on Board Resolution 12-1 for consideration by the reference committee. The reference committee will provide findings and recommendations to the Board for its decision.