Upper Extremities P&S Report Checklist for Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Saturday, September 23, 2006 | 0

By Luis Perez-Cordero and Craig Andrew Lange

Since early July, we have seen an inordinate increase in Upper Extremity Peripheral Nerve Disorder Impairment (PND) Ratings. Many of these reports point to the misuse of the AMA Guides and the incomplete reporting of some qualified medical examiners.

Most alarming is the misuse of Grade 3: 26% to 60% sensory deficits which require specific testing and objective clinical support.

We have also seen QMEs discarding prior Negative Nerve Conduction Studies, using their own technicians and "creating" peripheral nerve disorder impairment where none previously existed.

For your use, we are enclosing a P&S report checklist summarizing the main AMA Guides evaluation points, and the use of neurodiagnostic testing.

The checklist can help you verify completeness of any type of comprehensive P&S medical report, before a rating is issued or the report is paid. This will give you grounds to object to the report's lack of substantial evidence, allowing you adequate time to obtain a supplemental report with the missing and/or required information.

Please don't hesitate to share and/or distribute this checklist with colleagues.

A link to this checklist: http://www.pdratings.com/UEPND.htm.

Article by Luis Perez-Cordero & Craig Andrew Lange, Impairment & Disability Rating Specialists. They can be reached at pdrating@pacbell.net.

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