A helpful way to gather information from a person subject to an IME (an examinee) is through the use of a written questionnaire. Please see the below sample IME questionnaire. Note that the below form can also serve as a helpful reference for IME physicians when taking the history [...]
Many of the independent medical examinations (IMEs) are musculoskeletal and performed by orthopedic physicians. What does an excellent orthopedic IME consist of? Dr. Ronald Zipper, DO, FAOAO explained some of the elements of an excellent orthopedic IME. Pre IME Paperwork You and your staff should, at all times [...]
The below can be used as the basis for a written fee schedule for an independent medical examiner. Fee and Payment Policy <Organization> values the positive relationship it has with its clients. This policy stipulates our fees and payment expectations. Independent Medical Evaluations Fees are dependent upon the complexity [...]
According to SEAK’s 2015 IME Fee Survey the average Occupational Medicine IME now costs $1,282. The highest reported IME for Occupational Medicine was $15,000. The lowest reported IME fee for Occupational Medicine was $125. The average length for the entire IME process (record review, examination, and report writing for Occupational [...]
Results of the 2024 SEAK Survey of IME (Independent Medical Examination) Fees and Billing Practices SEAK is proud to announce the publication of its 2024 IME Fee Survey. The survey was conducted in June of 2024. We received over 325 responses and were able to compile data regarding 54 [...]
The below can be used as a starting point to organize your IME report. This model IME report was established many years ago my Christopher R. Brigham, MD, a national thought leader in the field on IMEs. Versions of this standardized IME report format are used widely by students of [...]
Can statements made by a workers’ comp claimant to an IME physician be used to convict the claimant of workers’ comp fraud? The court in, Commonwealth v. Wilson, Mass: Appeals Court 2013, said yes. The court upheld the conviction for workers’ comp fraud based substantially on the misrepresentations by the [...]
If you are a board certified physician and are interested in obtaining additional income doing file reviews, it is quite simple to get started. Many of the major players are selecting physicians for this work from the SEAK Medical File Review Directory. Here is an example of an email [...]
The March 2013 issue of the Journal of Rheumatology includes the article, A Medicolegal Analysis of Worker Appeals for Fibromyalgia as a Compensable Condition Following Workplace Soft-Tissue Injury. The cases studied were appeals for fibromyalgia after soft tissue injuries. RESULTS: All injuries were of a soft-tissue type, without persistent [...]
Physicians determine causation in workers’ compensation cases primarily based on excluding other potential causes. The Journal of Occupational Medicine (London) ran an interesting article, How Physicians Allocate Causation: A Scenario Study With Factorial Design. The results and conclusion of the study are as follows: RESULTS: The nature of the [...]