Barcaccia vi. Tri-Star Airport Handling Services Company / CCMSI / iQue Insurance

JCC Jacobs (Orlando) (Derrick Cox) (6-18-26) – Denied authorization of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and spouse-provided attendant care. The claimant suffered an amputation of the legs after being pinned between a pickup truck and wall. The claimant has since used prosthetic legs to aid in ambulation. The E/C provided transportation to doctor appointments and skilled nursing services. The claimant requested that the skilled nursing services terminate and requested a wheelchair-accessible vehicle of his own so that he could function independently. He further argued that 12-hour attendant care was necessary, and that his wife should be paid to provide such care.  Authorized provider Dr. Langford recommended attendant care and a wheelchair-accessible vehicle in letters at the claimant’s request. The JCC denied attendant care, finding Dr. Langford’s testimony did not properly authenticate either request and there was no valid prescription for non-professional attendant care that met the statutory requirements spelling out the nature, extent and duration of same, and provided under the supervision of an authorized doctor. The JCC found Dr. Langford’s letter regarding the vehicle was at the request of the claimant, and no other reason. The JCC accepted Dr. Langford’s testimony that he contemplated the claimant being able to drive on his prosthetics, rather than continuing to rely on the wheelchair to access transportation and denied the vehicle.  Click here to view Order