Patricia L. Baldwin - Page 5




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          generally following the directions of Mr. Baldwin’s doctors and             
          nurses.  Petitioner also took care of their 7 children and                  
          managed their small farm when she was not attending to her                  
          husband’s medical needs.                                                    
               On May 3, 1988, Mr. Baldwin made a written claim for                   
          expenses relating to nursing and attendant care provided by                 
          petitioner from 1980 onward pursuant to the Michigan Act.  In               
          December of 1989, a magistrate of the Michigan Bureau of Worker’s           
          Disability Compensation found that petitioner provided attendant            
          and nursing care to Mr. Baldwin as defined under the Michigan Act           
          and awarded petitioner reimbursement for services rendered.  The            
          magistrate’s award provided that petitioner was entitled to be              
          reimbursed in an amount equal to $8 per hour for 12 hours a day             
          and $12 an hour for hours in excess of 40 hours per week.2  The             
          magistrate estimated that petitioner spent 12 hours per day                 
          providing care for Mr. Baldwin and held that the hourly rates and           
          number of hours per week shall be payable until further notice.             
          Both Mr. Baldwin and GM appealed the decision.                              
               The Worker’s Compensation Appellate Commissioner of the                
          State of Michigan (Appellate Commissioner), upheld the                      
          magistrate’s decision except that the Appellate Commissioner                



               2    For care provided after July 30, 1985, petitioner’s               
          reimbursable time was limited to 56 hours per week.  Mich. Comp.            
          Laws section 418.315(1) (1985).                                             





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