IME

What is an IME?

An IME (Independent Medical Evaluation) may be conducted to determine the cause, extent and medical treatment of a work-related or other injury where liability is at issue.  The evaluation determines whether an individual has reached maximum benefit from treatment and whether any permanent impairment remains after treatment. An IME may be conducted at the request of an employer or an insurance carrier. The IME is used to obtain an independent opinion of the clinical status of the individual. Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers, auto insurance carriers, and self-insured employers have a legal right to this request. Should the doctor/therapist performing the IME conclude that a patient’s medical condition is not related to a compensationable event, the insurer may deny the claim and refuse payment.