“Workers’ comp is making me see their doctor. They’re calling it an IME or Independent Medical Exam. Do I have to go?”
“Workers’ comp is making me see their doctor. They’re calling it an IME or Independent Medical Exam. Do I have to go?”
1.) Short answer: Yes.
2.) Medium answer: Yes, but they are required by law to give you a mileage check payment with the notice, which pays for your travel to the IME, calculated by a certain rate and method, per Illinois law.
3.) Complete answer: Yes, but it would be extremely wise of you to consult with a workers’ comp experienced attorney for at least one free discussion about your situation, including your rights, and tips about how to handle the IME appointment. For example, you will be pressured to fill out many forms at the exam. Most of those forms you actually do NOT have to fill out, but for whatever reason, people like to obey authority, and authorities in these matters often do not even know that you, the injured worker, do NOT have to fill out all of the IME’s forms. They may actually believe you have to fill the forms out, but most of them, in fact, you really do NOT have to fill out. It is these kinds of bits of advice that could completely change your work comp case, and your life. Another one: Even if you are seeing a well-respected highly-educated doctor, he or she may burn you with a fake, five-minute “exam,” write a report the insurance company likes, and go on with the rest of their day genuinely helping most of their patients who are not work injury business from the insurance company. There are many great doctors in the world, but sadly, some sell out to burn injured workers at these “independent” medical exams. You deserve attorney advice. Learn this and more if you call me for a free private talk at (312)-782-8372.
