2.7 Independent medical examinations & reports

2.7.1 THP reports | 2.7.2 Independent medical examiners (IMEs) | 2.7.3 Worker Compliance | 2.7.4 Standards & complaints | 2.7.5 Complaints against IMEs | 2.7.6 Cost of independent medical examinations | 2.7.7 Independent Impairment Assessments

This section covers THP reports and independent medical examinations.

Note: Any reference to an independent medical examination and examiner (IME Independent Medical Examiner / Independent Medical Examination) in this section also includes a reference to an independent impairment assessment and assessor (IIA Independent impairment assessment) for the purposes of assessing a worker’s entitlement to weekly payments after the expiry of the second entitlement period. For a detailed discussion on IIAs, please see 2.7.7

THP report

A report from a THP can help to:

  • determine a worker’s eligibility for initial or ongoing entitlements
  • review an worker’s ongoing medical and health services and
  • manage a worker’s rehabilitation and return to work.
Independent medical examination reports

A report from an IME can help to:

  • resolve identified medical or treatment issues adversely impacting claims or RTW Return to Work management
  • determine medical, treatment and claims liability and entitlement issues.

An IME provides a medical opinion in their report that is evidence based and not influenced by the person who has arranged the examination or any other party including a worker or employer.

Independent impairment assessment reports

An independent impairment assessment is conducted by an IME. Typically, each injury or illness will be assessed once, and only when they are stable. The assessment determines a worker’s degree of permanent impairment (expressed as a whole person percentage) and is used to determine, where applicable, a worker’s entitlement to:

  • an impairment benefit

  • voluntary settlements

  • weekly payments after the expiry of the second entitlement period (for pre 12 November 1997 claims, and claims where 130 weeks has been reached on or after 31 March 2024)

  • leave to seek common law damages

See: Impairments Benefits | Common Law | ICRP settlements | Review of entitlement approaching end of the second entitlement period | Pre 12 November 1997 claims – weekly payments

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