Risk & Business Magazine Spectrum Insurance Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 30

WORKERS’ COMP CLAIMS RESOLUTION
Understanding Common Aspects of
Workers’ Comp Claims Resolution
D
ealing with workers’
compensation claims isn’t
always as straightforward
as one might hope.
Unfortunately, as an
employer, sooner or later you will have to
deal with an employee injury. To help you
through the process, here is a breakdown of
some of the common concerns employers
have while working through these claims.
BY: LARRY WICKS,
WORKERS’ COMP CLAIMS ADVOCATE,
SPECTRUM INSURANCE GROUP
30
INDEPENDENT MEDICAL
EXAMINATIONS (IME)
Your workers’ compensation insurance
carrier is entitled to schedule an
independent medical examination, or IME.
They may choose any doctor, chiropractor,
or psychologist. Usually, the adjuster
chooses a doctor who specializes in the
worker’s injury. The examination may be
scheduled at any time during the claim.
Once the worker is properly notified of
the appointment, he or she must attend.
Failure to attend places their claim on hold.
Few doctors are willing to perform these
examinations because they are in private
practice and are not on the staff of the
insurance company. Therefore, it may take
a few weeks to get an appointment.