What Is an IME Workers’ Comp Medical Exam?

An IME, or Independent Medical Examination, is a medical evaluation requested by your employer or their insurance company to get a second opinion about your workplace injury. Under Minnesota law, you are required to attend if your employer requests an IME. 

Contact a Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer from Kemmitt, Sanford, & Kramer Law PLLC if you have questions about your claim.

When and Why Do Employers Request an IME?

When you are injured on the job, your treating physician documents your condition, recommends treatment, and determines your work restrictions. An IME brings in a different doctor—one chosen by your employer or their insurer—to review your case and offer their own conclusions.

IMEs can happen at various points during your claim. Employers and insurers typically request one of these exams when they want an outside perspective on your injury and treatment. 

Common reasons for an IME include:

• Clarifying whether your injury actually stems from your job duties
• Evaluating whether your current treatment is appropriate
• Assessing your ability to return to work
• Determining whether you have any permanent disability

What Happens During an IME in Minnesota?

The IME itself typically lasts about an hour. The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask detailed questions about your symptoms, pain levels, and how your injury occurred. They will also dig into your complete medical history, looking for any past injuries or conditions that might be relevant.

It is important to understand that this doctor is not your doctor. There is no physician-patient relationship, which means anything you say during the appointment can be shared with your employer and their insurer. The examining physician will also review your medical records, searching for any history that might explain your current condition as something other than a work-related injury.

How IME Results Can Affect Your Workers’ Comp Claim

Studies have shown that IME opinions can differ significantly from treating physicians and may favor the party requesting the examination, particularly when the examiner is selected and paid by the insurer. Because of this, the IME report carries significant weight in your case. If the doctor concludes your injury isn’t work-related, has fully healed, or does not require ongoing treatment, your employer may use that report to deny or reduce your benefits.

Even when your own medical records support your claim, an unfavorable IME report can create obstacles. An attorney can often anticipate what the report might say and help you prepare accordingly.

Your Rights Before, During, and After an IME

Although you are required to attend an IME, you have important protections throughout this process:

• Compensation for lost wages: If you miss work to attend the IME, your employer must pay for that time. 
• Travel expense reimbursement: You are also entitled to reimbursement for mileage, parking, and transportation costs—save your receipts. 
• An accurate evaluation: The doctor should base their assessment on your actual medical records and the examination findings. 
• A copy of the report: You have the right to obtain the IME report so you and your attorney can review it for inaccuracies or bias.

Facing an IME? Talk to a Workers’ Comp Lawyer First

Too many injured workers walk into these exams without fully grasping what’s at stake or how to protect themselves. If you have been scheduled for an IME—or if an IME has already been used to deny or reduce your benefits—a free consultation with an attorney can help you fight back and pursue the compensation your injury truly warrants. Contact a Minnesota workers’ comp lawyer today and start protecting your rights.