What does a medical impairment rating assess in workers' compensation?

A medical impairment rating is a crucial component in determining the extent of an individual's long-term functional limitations resulting from a work-related injury or illness. It specifically evaluates the degree of permanent impairment that a worker may experience following their medical treatment and rehabilitation. This rating is often expressed as a percentage and indicates how much the injury has affected the worker's ability to perform common activities or essential job tasks.

By assessing the degree of permanent impairment, this rating helps to establish the level of compensation the injured worker may be entitled to in the future. It plays a significant role in finalizing settlements in workers' compensation cases, as it helps to quantify the lasting impact of a workplace injury on an individual's health and daily life.

While aspects such as temporary disability duration, medical expenses incurred, and future earning capacity are all relevant in the broader context of a workers' compensation claim, they do not specifically reflect the degree of permanent impairment as assessed through a medical impairment rating. Thus, option C accurately captures the primary focus of the medical impairment rating in workers' compensation cases.