The insurance lawyers like to refer to this as an independent medical examination or an IME. Plaintiff’s lawyers have begun insisting that this exam be called a defense medical examination or DME, as it is anything but independent. The doctors paid by the insurance company strain to offer opinions that help the insurance company.
An IME is an independent medical evaluation that is used to resolve questions about your medical condition for purposes of a workers' comp claim. States have different rules on who chooses the doctor to perform the IME. In some states, the insurance company picks the doctor. In others, the doctor will be randomly selected from a list.
Independent Medical Examination. An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is an attempt to confirm – or more likely, to dispute – the treating doctor’s management and care recommendations for an injured worker.. The Independent Medical Examiner is supposed to act as a neutral third-party who reviews the medical records presented by the treating doctor; …
This examination represents the third stage of the discovery process. The insurance lawyers like to refer to this as an "independent medical exam" or an IME. The IME is anything but independent and no insurance lawyer will claim otherwise outside the courtroom, that is, …
Independent Medical ExamWhat Is an Independent Medical Exam? An IME is defined as “the evaluation of an injured party that utilizes a third party, independent medical professional to issue an unbiased opinion on the injury.”
5989 (1998), the court ruled that a party who has submitted to an IME has the right to depose the examining physician, even if the party that requested the examination has withdrawn the physician as an expert witness or redesignated him or her as a "consultant."Mar 26, 2008
5 Ways You Can Beat a UNUM IME ReportDon't Exaggerate Your Symptoms. ... Build Strong Relationships With Your Treating Doctors. ... Assume You're Under Surveillance Before and After an IME. ... Bring a Trustworthy Witness With You. ... Consult an Experienced Disability Insurance Lawyer.Jul 17, 2020
After the IME, the doctor will issue a report. Usually, that takes about 30 days.Oct 2, 2018
These doctors want to make the insurance company happy so that they can continue getting these lucrative exams referred to them. That means their reports to the insurance company tend to minimize the extent of accident victims' injuries, and mistakes can be made. On some occasions the doctors flat out lie.
What Not to Say to the Independent Medical Examination DoctorDo not ask the physician for a diagnosis. ... Do not exaggerate the symptoms of your injuries or occupational illness. ... Avoid saying more than you should.Dec 25, 2018
1-14 daysA report is issued 1-14 days after the date of evaluation. Michigan IME will notify the referral source if a report will be completed outside the above listed time frame. If a report is delivered past this standard time frame, the appropriate party will be updated of the delivery status every 48 hours.
Once your exam is complete, you'll need to contact the long-term disability insurance company and request a copy of the IME report. It typically takes no longer than two weeks for the IME doctor to send a copy of the report to the insurance company.May 27, 2021
IMEs usually take around 30 minutes, but could be over in 10 minutes. Make a note of how much time was spent. There is only so much “history” an examining doctor can absorb from one meeting with a patient.
However, the reasonable band of timescales for provision of a report after a medical examination probably ranges from about 6 to 10 weeks. You would expect that, once the insurers receive any medical report, they should be in a position to make a settlement offer to you within four weeks or so.Oct 21, 2015
If your case goes to trial, what happens during an IME is crucial to the outcome. You could be denied benefits because of what an independent medical examiner concluded from his examination. Be prepared to dispute any conclusions.
Independent Medical Examination. An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is an attempt to confirm – or more likely, to dispute – the treating doctor’s management and care recommendations for an injured worker. The Independent Medical Examiner is supposed to act as a neutral third-party who reviews the medical records presented by ...
Don’t agree to any written tests or visits to another doctor’s office for further examinations. IMEs usually take around 30 minutes, but could be over in 10 minutes. Make a note of how much time was spent. There is only so much “history” an examining doctor can absorb from one meeting with a patient.
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There is nothing wrong with a simple “Yes” or “No” response. If you’re not sure about the question, ask the doctor to clarify it. There is no reason to take more x-rays or MRIs or anything beyond simple, physical tests to verify (or contradict) the results your treating physician already documented.
The Independent Medical Examiner is supposed to act as a neutral third-party who reviews the medical records presented by the treating doctor; conducts tests to substantiate or counter those findings; recommends future care needs and offers an opinion on what medical benefits, if any, the employee should receive in the future.