Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a new report from CWCI that examined changes in the population of qualified medical evaluators (QMEs), who resolve disputes over California workers’ comp claim issues such as the extent of an injured worker’s permanent impairment.
Key findings included that the number of QMEs fell 20% between January 2012 and September 2017, but the impact on QME accessibility was partially offset by an increase in the median number of office locations per QME, which doubled over the same period. CWCI also noted that after climbing steadily from 2007-2014, the average payment per med-legal service leveled off in 2015 and 2016, with data from the first half of 2017 suggesting the average may now be declining. The study also linked this change in the med-legal payment trend to a shift in the mix of services.
Find out more (including a link to the free report!) by clicking here!