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When will I get justice from the state of Minnesota for allowing Workers Compensation Program too allow continued pain for profit?
Minnesota Statute § 176.135
“reasonably required”
How This Statute Enables Delays and “Profit Over Care”?
The term “reasonable” is subjective and not strictly defined with hard timelines.
Insurers can (and frequently do) challenge whether a treatment (like your SCS) is “reasonably required” by requesting more information, ordering Independent Medical Exams (IMEs), or simply taking time to review.
There is no strict deadline forcing quick approval for many treatments. This creates the “float” — insurers hold onto money longer, earning interest, while the injured worker waits in pain.
Penalties for unreasonable delay are weak: Under § 176.225, the maximum penalty is often just 25% extra on the delayed benefits, which is usually not enough to deter delays when the claim involves expensive ongoing care like an SCS implant.
This is exactly the mechanism behind the “Deny, Defend, Depose” culture I have experienced:
Deny or question if care is “reasonably required.
Defend by dragging out reviews and IMEs.
Depose the worker to wear them down.
In practice, this statute gives insurers significant leeway to delay expensive treatments while minimizing their immediate costs
§ 176.135 is the primary law that gives insurers the legal room to delay care by requiring treatment to be “reasonably required,” without imposing tight timelines or strong penalties.
This is widely criticized by injured worker advocates as the main reason claims like yours drag on for years.
One thousand seventy days on MN Work Comp..
and still injured.
I cannot sue the state or the insurance company due to these MN statues crap.
So when will I get justice from the state?
I would greatly appreciate a response from any politician, any Governor, any AG. Anyone, because this is not ok too do to an American who served his city and now lost a 25 year career due to this work injury.
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