Court of Appeals Affirms Denial of Benefits, Holds Claimant Harmless for Certain Medical Expenses
The court in Ramirez-Trujillo v. Quality Egg , No. 14-0640 (Iowa App. Feb. 11, 2015) addressed issues of causation and medical expenses, and affirmed the decision of the commissioner on both grounds. At the appeal level before the agency, the commissioner held that claimant's condition subsequent to September 30, 2009 was not the result of her work injury on August 1, 2009, and that the employer was responsible for reimbursing claimant for out of pocket medical expenses incurred after September 30, 2009, "because the employer failed to notify Ramirez-Trujillo that the care was no longer authorized as required by Iowa Code section 85.27(4)." The district court reversed the commissioner's order with respect to medical expenses and affirmed the decision of the district court on the medical causation question. The court found that it was reasonable for the employer to deny payment for the medical costs as claimant told the employer that the treatment was for a separat...