Can an employee obtain a fourth opinion? What about the QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) process?
Employees who still dispute the findings of the second and third opinion physicians are entitled to an Independent Medical Review ( IMR ). See the procedure for this process located in the Notice Concerning Independent Medical Reviews . Ultimately, if the IMR physician disputes the diagnosis or treatment prescribed by the treating physician, the employee has the right to obtain the disputed treatment or diagnostic service by any physician, inside or outside of the MPN. The employee is still entitled to a panel Qualified Medical Examination (QME), for standard workers’ compensation issues under dispute such as the permanent and stationary level of the employee, nature and extent of permanent disability, ability of the employee to return to the pre-injury occupation, or nature and extent of future medical treatment.
