California Regulations 31.5 26

(1) A QME on the panel issued does not practice in the specialty requested by the employee. (2) A QME on the panel issued cannot schedule an examination for the employee within 60 days of theemployees request. (3) The employee has changed his or her residence address since the QME panel was issued. (4) A physician on the QME panel is a member of the same group practice as defined by Labor Codesection 139.3 as another QME on the panel. (5) The QME is unavailable pursuant to section 33.

(b) Any party may request a replacement QME if any of the following occurs:

(1) The employees primary treating physician in accordance with Section 9785 of this Title is on thepanel. (2) The claims administrator or, if none, the employer and the unrepresented employee agree that a newpanel may be issued in the geographic area of the employee's work place. (3) The Medical Director, upon written request, finds good cause that a replacement QME is appropriate for reasons related to the medical nature of the injury. For purposes of this subsection, good cause is defined as a documented medical or psychological impairment. (4) The Medical Director, upon written request, determines after a review of all appropriate records, that the specialty chosen by the injured worker is medically or otherwise inappropriate for the injury to be evaluated. (5) Any violation of Section 34.

(c) The Medical Director shall select replacement QME(s) at random.

History: Amendment of subsections (b), (b)(1) and (b)(3), new subsections (b)(4)-(5), operative 5/14/00.