How does HB 7 change Required Medical Examinations (RMEs)?
A. Under HB 7, an insurance carrier may only request an RME to resolve questions about the appropriateness of the health care or after a designated doctor examination has already been conducted to address an issue relating to an injured worker’s maximum medical improvement (MMI) or impairment rating. Issues previously handled by RMEs, such as extent of injury or whether the injured worker is physically able to return to work, will be handled by designated doctor examinations. Additionally, insurance carriers may no longer suspend the payment of temporary income benefits (TIBs) because an injured worker fails to attend an RME. However, an injured worker who fails to attend an RME is subject to an administrative violation. HB 7 also clarified that a person who makes a frivolous request for a RME commits an administrative violation. The statutory provisions regarding RMEs do not apply to network claims.
