MMI Explained: When Are You "Done Healing" in Utah Workers' Comp?

If you ask injured workers in Utah what the most important date in their case is, most will say "the day I got hurt." Wrong answer. The most important date is the day your doctor declares you at Maximum Medical Improvement — MMI for short.

That single date controls when your wage benefits stop, when your settlement value is calculated, and how much PPD money you walk away with. Get MMI wrong and you can leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

The short version

• MMI = the point where your condition won't improve further with more treatment.
• MMI is a medical determination made by your treating doctor (or an IME doctor).
• When MMI hits: TTD stops, impairment rating is assigned, and PPD eligibility begins.
• You can dispute MMI if you disagree — but you need medical evidence, not just opinion.

What MMI actually means

MMI is a legal-medical term defined by the AMA Guides to Permanent Impairment, which Utah adopts by reference. Your doctor declares you at MMI when:

1. Your condition has stabilized — symptoms are no longer changing meaningfully.
2. Further treatment will not improve your function (it may maintain or palliate, but not improve).
3. Any permanent damage that exists is now permanent.

MMI does not mean "fully recovered." Plenty of workers reach MMI while still in pain, with residual limitations, or with a permanent impairment. MMI just means "we've gotten you as good as we're going to get."

Why MMI is the most important date in your case

1. TTD payments stop at MMI

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) — your weekly wage-replacement check — ends the day you're declared at MMI. No exceptions. If you're earning $667/week in TTD and MMI hits on Monday, your last full check covers up to Monday.

Read more: TTD vs PPD — what injured workers get wrong.

2. Impairment rating is assigned at MMI

Once you're MMI, your doctor (or an IME) uses the AMA Guides to assign an impairment rating as a percentage of "whole person." That percentage drives your PPD math.

3. PPD eligibility starts at MMI

Permanent Partial Disability — your settlement money — only kicks in after MMI. The formula:

PPD total = Impairment % × 312 weeks × TTD weekly rate

Example: Worker earning $1,000/week with 12% impairment after MMI:

• TTD weekly: $1,000 × 0.6667 = $667
• PPD weeks: 12% × 312 = 37.4 weeks
• PPD total: 37.4 × $667 = $24,946

4. The statute of limitations clock can change

Utah workers' comp has multiple deadlines — to report the injury, to file the claim, to reopen for new medical issues. MMI affects when some of those clocks start or pause.

How long until MMI?

It depends on the injury. Common ranges in Utah workers' comp:

These are rough averages. Some workers hit MMI sooner, some later — it depends on your body, your treatment, and your doctor.

What if I disagree with my MMI date?

You have rights. Utah law allows you to:

1. Request a second opinion from another treating doctor before accepting MMI. The insurance company often pushes back, but you can fight for this.
2. Request an Independent Medical Examination (IME) if your treating doctor declares MMI but you disagree. The IME doctor reviews your records, examines you, and gives a binding opinion (usually).
3. Continue treatment at your own cost and submit later evidence to reopen if your condition genuinely worsens or you can show MMI was wrong.
4. Hire an attorney if the MMI determination feels rushed and you're facing significant lost benefits.

The 3 mistakes injured workers make around MMI

Mistake 1: Accepting MMI without checking the impairment rating

The MMI declaration usually comes packaged with an impairment rating. If you accept the rating without review, you're locking in your PPD value. Get a second opinion on the rating before agreeing.

Mistake 2: Settling the case before MMI

Insurance adjusters sometimes offer "early settlement" before you reach MMI. The number sounds nice — but you don't yet know your impairment rating, so you don't know what PPD is actually worth. Wait for MMI.

Mistake 3: Confusing MMI with "back to normal"

MMI doesn't mean you're 100%. It means you're as good as you'll get. Workers who think MMI = full recovery often skip the impairment rating discussion entirely, which is where most of the PPD money lives.

Calculate your PPD value once you're at MMI

Once you have an impairment rating, plug your numbers into the CVR Quick Calculator. It runs the PPD math using current 2026 Utah rates and gives you a number you can take to the adjuster.

Still not sure if you should accept your MMI date? An attorney can review your medical records and tell you in 15 minutes whether the determination is solid or worth fighting. Find one in our Utah attorney directory.