Disclaimer: The answers to these questions can be found in the audio recording, in the course handouts, and represent the opinion of the speakers.  They do not necessarily represent COA’s opinion or policy on the issue.

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1. Contact Information (Required.)

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2. Test Date (Required.)

Date

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3. The Division of Workers' Compensation is in the process of updating the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule.  The new fee schedule is expected to be reimbursed on a "flat rate" system. (Required.)

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4. The updated Medical-Legal Fee Schedule will still be based on complexity factors. (Required.)

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5. Attorneys will be required to send their Joint Letter to the QME/AME at least 15 working days prior to the evaluation. (Required.)

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6. Workers' Compensation carriers are opposed to having all records sent to an entity which would remove duplicate records and organize the records.  The record organizer would send the records to the evaluator. (Required.)

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7. If the QME/AME does not address issues in the Joint Letter, the carrier may demand that the evaluator do a supplemental report free of charge, to address the requested issues. (Required.)

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8. Common Mistakes Doctors Make in Their Reports
The Escobedo decision has been around since 2005 and only applies to apportionment. (Required.)

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9. The treating physician and QME must address the same issues in their reports (Medical-Legal Report or PR-4) because the judge can rely on either report - whichever they believe is more comprehensive. (Required.)

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10. QMEs must disclose in their report who actually evaluated the patient including if a computer assisted in the evaluation. (Required.)

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11. Active and Passive range of motion are both valid. (Required.)

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12. The Combined Values chart in the AMA Guides is based on scientific data. (Required.)

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13. Orthopaedic surgeons only need to understand and use the musculoskeletal chapters of the AMA Guides.  The other chapters are not important in an orthopaedic evaluation. (Required.)

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14. Atrophy of even 1 cm is rateable. (Required.)

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15. It is important for the QME to tell the judge in your report what is "normal" according to the AMA Guide when compared to your findings on the patient that you are evaluating.  You cannot assume the judge will know. (Required.)

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16. It is important for the evaluator to review op reports in the medical reports. (Required.)

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17. Contributory Causation.
The employer is only liable for the percentage of permanent disability directly caused by the injury. (Required.)

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18. QMEs/AMEs can either address causation or apportionment in their reports.  They do not have to address both. (Required.)

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19. Contributory causation can include factors related to heredity, disease, and medical conditions. (Required.)

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20. It is important to remember that the AMA Guides does not include any notion of cumulative trauma. (Required.)

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21. The defense and applicant attorneys both have the responsibility of proving or disapproving apportionment. (Required.)

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22. When apportioning an injury, which of the situations should be considered? (Required.)

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23. In your evaluation report, it is not important to discuss how the injury caused a permanent disability. (Required.)

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24. It is important to include a discussion in your report of when a risk factor becomes causative of disability. (Required.)

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25. In order for the evaluation report to be complete, the QME/AME must include a rationale for the conclusions in their report. (Required.)

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26. There is medical evidence to support considering obesity as a contributory factor in hip, knee and in foot/ankle injuries. (Required.)

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27. An injured worker can have both a structural and functional deformity? (Required.)

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28. When assessing a hand problem, it may be appropriate to exam the injured worker's feet to determine if they have a genetic condition? (Required.)

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29. Fat mass is never a reliable predictor of low back pain. (Required.)

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30. In adult scoliosis patients, Sagittal Balance is the best predicator of functional outcome. (Required.)

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31. The FDA has only approved the use of BMP-2 in an anterior interbody fusion in a cage. (Required.)

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32. Functional Capacity
Functional Restoration Programs include the following disciplines: (Required.)

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33. What are two factors lead to avoidance which can lead to greater disability? (Required.)

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34. The American Physical Therapy Association defines a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) as: (Required.)

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35. The study of well-known FCE methods indicates that these methods: (Required.)

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36. Psychiatric Evaluations
The threshold for compensability for most psychiatric claims in California is: (Required.)

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37. The multiaxial psychiatric assessment used in the Diagnostic and Statistical (Required.)

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38. In the case of Kite v Athens Administrators, two hip impairments were: (Required.)

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