A disability is considered permanent and stationary when the employee has reached what milestone under AMA Guidelines?

• A. The employee has reached maximal medical improvement under AMA Guidelines
• B. The employee has plateaued medically
• C. The employee is no longer temporarily totally disabled
• D. The need for medical treatment ceases

Answer: (D)

Permanent and stationary status is reached when maximal medical improvement has been achieved—the condition has stabilized and further medical treatment is not expected to produce meaningful improvement. This milestone signals that the person’s impairment is essentially fixed under AMA Guidelines, allowing for impairment ratings to be assigned. It does not require that all medical treatment stop; ongoing management for maintenance or pain control may still be needed, but the key factor is that no further significant medical improvement is anticipated.