An Act To Improve the Independent Medical Examiner System
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 39-A MRSA §312, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 and as affected by §§9 to 11, is amended to read:
3. Appointment. The board may order an examination by an independent medical examiner only if both parties to a dispute request such an examination. If the parties to a dispute can not agree on an independent medical examiner of their own choosing, the board shall assign an independent medical examiner from the list of qualified examiners to render medical findings in any dispute relating to the medical condition of a claimant, including but not limited to disputes that involve the employee's medical condition, improvement or treatment, degree of impairment or ability to return to work.
summary
Currently, either party to a dispute under the laws governing workers' compensation may request that an independent medical examiner be appointed by the Workers' Compensation Board. This bill amends the law to authorize the appointment of an independent medical examiner only at the request of both parties to the dispute.