IME limitations

Disability Insurance
1

My insurer needs me to go for an in-person neuropsych IME

I don’t know how long it will be yet, but based on different websites, I am assuming it will be 6-8 hours. Do you think it would be helpful for me to notify my insurer in advance that I will need them broken into shorter sessions? I won’t be able to do longer than an hour and if they need me in person, I’ll need a rest day in between as I will be knocked out the next day after traveling as well. How much accommodation should I request, or should I just go with what they tell me and then if I can’t do it, I tell the assessor there and then?

Also, could a lawyer’s intervention change the outcome in any way?

2

If it were me, I’d do the following:

  1. Yes, get on the record (via email) that your IME needs to be limited to approximately 1 hour increments to prevent a flare up of your condition. Have your attending physician write a note to support this. Ask for any other accommodations you need at the same time.

  2. Get on record requesting that the IME be done online, so you don’t have to leave the house. There is absolutely no reason a psychological IME can’t be done over the internet. If it needs to be in-person, ask your insurer why it needs to be in person.

  3. Confirm with the insurer that all reports and notes generated from the IME will be provided to your attending physician within 10 days of the completion of the IME.

  4. Never say you are refusing the IME, always agree to the IME (for contractual purposes), but make sure your requests for reasonable accomodations are known and on record (email).

2 Likes
3

Thanks, Buckets365

I’ve requested a virtual assessment in 1hr increments. I’ll followup with the rest you mentioned as well.

Based on a few neuropsychology websites I checked, the initial clinical interview can be done virtually but the cognitive tests are in person. It may be because it includes tests done with pencil and paper. I don’t know if its included but if it is, a MOCA test for dementia requires drawing a few things like the time on a clock. I’ve also heard neuropsych assessments for brain injury require testing balance. They may be looking for behavioral aspects caused by mental conditions that could affect cognition but I’ve had psychiatric assessments done virtually so I don’t know why a neuropsych may not be able to check any mental health components virtually.

Regardless I’ll see what they say about it being done remotely. Thanks so much

1 Like
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Neuropsychological testing involves standardized tests that must be delivered using a specific procedure in order for the test results to be valid. You would need to express your concerns to the psycholgist and they would let you know what is appropriate. Sometimes the ability to complete the tests in a certain time is part of the assessment. You would need to go with what the psychologist recommends because they know what is needed for their testing to be valid.

David Brannen

Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal

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