This bill amends Section 85.34 of the Iowa Code regarding the determination of loss or permanent impairment for permanent partial disability under workers' compensation. It specifies that the most recent annual update to the most recent edition of the guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, published by the American Medical Association, shall be used for these determinations. The bill removes the previous requirement that the workers' compensation commissioner adopt these guides by rule, streamlining the process for assessing permanent partial disability.

The changes made by this bill will apply to determinations of extent of loss or percentage of permanent impairment occurring on or after the effective date of the Act. This update is significant as it ensures that the most current standards are utilized in evaluating permanent partial disabilities, thereby potentially improving the accuracy and fairness of compensation determinations for affected workers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 85.34, 85.27