I’m Mike [music] Ruch, a Workers’ Comp attorney here at Quatrini Law Group. The Heart and Lung Act and Acts 534/632 were enacted to cover employees injured in high-risk jobs and preserve employees rights to continue to collect their paychecks while injured. Workers covered by the Heart and Lung Act include law enforcement and corrections officials. Acts 534/632 specifically apply to injuries resulting from actions of an inmate causing injury to a corrections officer or employee of a state mental institution. These statutes provide benefits in addition to any benefits payable under the workers compensation act. Under the Heart and Lung Act and Acts 534/632, an injured worker is entitled to receive full gross pay, payment of medical bills, and payment of fringe benefits. But the duration of benefits differs because the Heart and Lung Act is only payable as long as an injured worker will be able to return to their job at some point in the future. If the disability becomes permanent, then Heart and Lung Act benefits terminate. Receipt of injury benefits can be concurrent, however, up to a maximum amount. So, it’s possible to no longer qualify for Heart and Lung Act benefits, but still be entitled to Act 534 and 632 benefits and/or workers compensation. For example, if a corrections officer’s disability becomes permanent, Heart and Lung Act benefits will end, but Act 632 and workers comp benefits may then kick in. Navigating these various benefits can be confusing and possibly treacherous. Don’t go it alone. Call us at Quatrini Law Group to make sure you maximize your entitlement if you’re injured.