I am considering doing some side work performing some IMEs and Disability Reviews. It is my understanding that traditional medical malpractice insurance does not cover these services and Errors and Omissions Insurance should be obtained. Has anyone had experience getting this type of insurance? If so, was there a good company to go through and what was the cost like? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Errors and Omissions Insurance for IMEs and Disability Reviews
- Thread starter pike73
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your malpractice should cover IMEs and other forensic work. Basically physician malpractice coverage (professional liability insurance) is a specific form of E&O. The chance of being successfully sued is really quite low. I have heard of people getting separate E&O insurance but its really just throwing away money from ignorance. If you work through some of the major companies who field alot of the worker's comp and other IME cases then they will allow you to purchase E&O coverage (often on a per-case basis) which they deduct from the money they pay you. Again, I do not think you need it. But it is probably a good idea to clarify with your malpractice carrier that they will cover this work. I have found the companies I have spoken to are happy to provide coverage and it costs no more than coverage for clinical work.
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Agree with above. Companies can't really sue you unless you commit some very gross negligence (i.e. not seeing the patient before making the assessment, lying on billing, etc). Most of the time IMEs is just record-keeping--you are not going to overturn the diagnoses of a previous set of doctors who has years of experience with the patient, and it's ideal that you give your impression with the patient after the evaluation so there's no mystery.
