California Regulations 31 23
From Wcc
§ QME Panel Selection.
(a) The panels shall be selected randomly from the appropriate specialty requested by the employee,with consideration given to the proximity of the QMEs medical office to the employees residence. (b) The unrepresented employee shall make an appointment request with a QME listed on the panel and may consult with his or her primary treating physician as to an appropriate QME specialist. Neither the claimsrepresentative nor a representative of the employer nor a QME may discuss the selection of a panelQME with an unrepresented worker at any time. (c) The Medical Director shall exclude from the panel selection process any QME who has informed theMedical Director that he or she is unavailable pursuant to Section 33. (d) Any physician who has served as a primary treating physician or secondary physician and who has provided treatment in accordance with Section 9785.5 ofthis Title for this injury for an unrepresented employee shall not perform a QME evaluation on thatemployee. If that QME appears on a panel, he or she shall disqualify him or herself, and the employeemay request a replacement QME pursuant to Section 31.5. History: amendment of subsections (b) and (d), effective 5/14/00. |
