What is an Independent Medical Exam (IME) and do I have to attend it?
An independent medical exam (IME) or evaluation is performed by a physician who has not been involved in the current care of that injured worker. IME’s may be conducted to determine the cause, extent and medical treatment of a work-related injury; whether a worker has reached maximum benefit from treatment; and whether any permanent impairment remains after treatment. An IME may be conducted at the behest of an employer or an insurance carrier suspicious of fraud to verify a claimed work-related injury. Workers’ compensation insurance carriers and self-insured employers have a legal right to this request. Should the doctor performing the IME conclude that a patient’s medical condition is not work-related, the insurer may deny the claim and refuse payment. An injured worker MUST attend a scheduled IME. If the injured worker does not attend a scheduled IME, they are risking any current and future treatment and benefits.
