According to the Illinois worker’s compensation law, insurance companies have the right to send you to a doctor of their choice for a one-time exam. This is called an independent medical examination (IME) and participation is mandatory. If you fail to go, your benefits can be suspended. This includes medical care, physical therapy, prescription pain medication, doctor consultations, etc.
Benefits of Independent Medical Examination (IME)
Some of the benefits you can get from attending an IME include the following:
- Get an objective opinion in a medical-legal case against your employer.
- Resolve concerns and disputes regarding medical treatment and your condition.
- Reveal obstacles that may otherwise prevent you from getting fast resolutions.
- Determine a relevant treatment plan.
- Uncover a missed or inappropriate diagnosis and can also help doctors devise a new treatment plan that can aid your recovery.
What An IME Tries To Achieve
Going to an IME is in your best interest since it achieves the following:
- Offering treatment recommendations that can speed up recovery.
- Determine causation to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
- Figure out the duration of care required.
- Figure out whether you have acquired the max benefit from the treatment.
- Determine medical restrictions and the work restrictions you may face because of your condition.
- Set a relevant target date for your maximum medical improvement status.
You can be sent to a second IME if there is a notable change in your condition or if they need to address a different medical issue. It can be a while till this happens.
Generally, insurance companies may ask you to submit to an IME if there is a concern or issue regarding your compensation claim. In some cases, the doctor may wish to declare that you have recovered so that the insurance company can stop paying benefits sooner. This is understandable since these doctors are paid by the insurance companies.
However, if you think you have not recovered sufficiently and are being forced to give up benefits, you have grounds to sue for damages. In this case, you should have competent worker’s compensation lawyers in your corner such as from the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens. Get in touch with us for a consultation in our offices in Chicago, Libertyville, Waukegan, Woodstock, and Antioch, IL. We will have the best in our team on your case.
See more on our Illinois Workers’ Compensation FAQs page.
