#5 My patient is worried about getting more treatment until they get the results of the Independent Medical Exam, which is also known as an IME Exam? What should I tell them?
QUESTION: My patient is worried about getting more treatment until they get the results of the Independent Medical Exam (IME). What should I tell them?
ANSWER: The most important thing your patient can do to help their recovery and preserve their PIP benefits is to continue with their treatment EVEN WHEN they receive the IME results back from the insurance company. When you first meet with a patient that been injured in a car accident, it’s critical that you let them know that if they ever hear from the PIP carrier that they’re required to attend an IME, to let you know immediately and encourage them to talk with an experienced personal injury attorney to get advice on their best course of action to protect themselves and their PIP benefits so that they get the treatment they need and deserve.
My patient is worried about getting more treatment until they get the results of the Independent Medical Exam (IME). What should I tell them?
The most important thing your patient can do to help their recovery and preserve their PIP benefits is to continue with their treatment EVEN WHEN they receive the results back from the insurance company about their IME.
When people who have been injured in a car accident don’t have an attorney experienced in personal injury claims representing them, they don’t generally understand the purpose and the process of an IME. They often make the assumption that they should stop getting treatment when the insurance company says they’re cutting off their PIP benefits after the IME. That’s actually the most detrimental thing they can do — both for their recovery from their injuries and to maintain their PIP benefits.
They can make the assumption that their health insurance isn’t going to pay for their treatment — or perhaps they’re concerned about the expense of more treatment and incurring medical bills, so they decide not to continue going to their appointments, even though they know they need the treatment.
The IME process is complex and we understand why people who have been injured consider giving up when they receive notice that the PIP carrier is stopping their benefits. If this does happen to your patient, there are ways to have their PIP benefits restored.
What is always most important, is not your patient’s personal injury claim it’s never the claim — what’s most important is your patient getting the medical treatment they need to have a full recovery as soon as possible. If they stop their treatments, that’s not going to happen.
The way you can help your patient navigate what we refer to as ‘The IME Game’ is when you first meet with a new patient who has been in a car accident, it’s critical that you let them know that if they ever hear from the PIP carrier that they’re required to attend an IME, they need to let you know immediately.
You should also advise them to continue with their treatments and encourage them to talk with an experienced personal injury attorney. The lawyer will provide a no-fee, no-obligation initial consultation. During their meeting, the attorney will ask your patient a number of questions about their accident and injuries. This will provide the lawyer with the details about your patient’s claim and circumstances so they’re in the best position to educate them on the IME process and advise them on their best course of action to protect themselves and their PIP benefits so that they get the treatment they need and deserve.
We’re here to be a bridge of support for you and your patients.
We have developed a robust library of information for your patients who have been injured in an accident, which can be found in the INJURED? START HERE portal on our website.
There are 40 topic-focused articles, with accompanying videos, organized into the four categories that include the personal injury claim-related questions we’re asked most often, which include:
- Top 10 Personal Injury Claim Mistakes to Avoid
- What You Need to Know About Your Claim
- How Are My Medical Bills & Wage Loss Paid
- How to Prepare for Your Independent Medical Exam
Each article provides advice and guidelines to help your patients navigate each phase of the personal injury claims process. Whether we represent your patient or not, we are passionate about them knowing how to protect their rights, get the medical care they need, and avoid the mistakes that can harm their personal injury claim.
Each article provides advice and guidelines to help your patients navigate each phase of the personal injury claims process. Whether we represent your patient or not, we are passionate about them knowing how to protect their rights, get the medical care they need, and avoid the mistakes that can harm their personal injury claim.
Additionally, if it would be helpful to have the information we feature on our website available in your office to pass along to your patients, we’ve developed brochures for each of the four article series -- in both English and Spanish that we’re happy to send to your office. Please complete the form below and we’ll get them out to you promptly.
