A psychiatric or psychology QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator) is a California-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist certified by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit to perform independent medical-legal evaluations in workers’ compensation disputes. Under the DWC medical-legal fee schedule, a comprehensive psych QME evaluation pays $4,030. Sound Medical Evaluators is a physician-led QME practice management company that pays psychiatrists and psychologists a published 70% distribution on every psych case (for example, $2,821 on a $4,030 psych comprehensive) and handles scheduling, records, transcription, report quality, billing and collections.
Prefer to talk now? Call (916) 461-9602
Psychiatrists and psychologists: send your name, specialty and a convenient time to reach you, and our team will follow up. You can also reach us directly.
California’s medical-legal fee schedule doubles the value of a comprehensive, follow-up or supplemental evaluation when a psychiatrist or psychologist performs it and the psychiatric or psychological evaluation is the primary focus. Record review over the included pages is paid per page and is not doubled. Here is what that looks like with a 70% distribution.
| Service | Fee schedule | At 60% | Example at 70% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive psych QME evaluationIncludes review of 200 pages of records | $4,030 | $2,418 | $2,821 |
| Comprehensive psych QME with a 2,000-page record review$4,030 plus 1,800 pages at $3 per page ($5,400) | $9,430 | $5,658 | $6,601 |
| Psych follow-up evaluationWithin 18 months of your prior comprehensive evaluation | $2,632.50 | $1,579.50 | $1,842.75 |
| Psych supplemental reportIncludes review of 50 pages; $3 per page beyond | $1,300 | $780 | $910 |
| Psych AME (agreed medical evaluation)Normal value multiplied by 2.35 | $4,735.25 | $2,841.15 | $3,314.68 |
| Deposition testimony$455 per hour; two-hour minimum for a deposition | $455/hr | $273/hr | $318.50/hrfor example, $637 for a two-hour deposition |
Source: DWC medical-legal fee schedule, 8 CCR §9795, for evaluations on or after April 1, 2021 (modifier -96 for psych; -94 with -96 for psych AME). The 70% distribution applies to all psych cases: evaluations, follow-ups, supplementals, AME cases and depositions. Figures at 60% and 70% are examples only. Actual pay varies by case, records volume, fee-schedule modifiers and contract terms.
For example, ten comprehensive psych QMEs at $4,030 each bill $40,300. At a 70% distribution that is $28,210, versus $24,180 at a 60% split: $4,030 more in this example for the same reports.
Book a 15-Minute Intro CallQME practice management for psychology and psychiatry, from the first panel appointment to the last deposition. We coordinate the work around your evaluation and leave the clinical opinions to you. Learn how QME and AME evaluations work.
Comprehensive psychiatric and psychological QME evaluations from state-issued panels, scheduled at the locations you choose.
Agreed medical evaluations in represented cases, where both sides select you. Our physicians take both QME and AME cases. How attorneys work with us.
Independent medical examinations for legal and insurance matters, including psychological review, outside the panel process.
When new records or questions arrive after your report, we support your supplemental report, with the new records organized for your review.
We schedule your depositions and help you prepare to defend your findings, and your 70% applies to deposition fees too.
Records are organized and summarized as they arrive, so long psych files are ready before your evaluation date.
Remote video evaluations. Under 8 CCR §46.3, California rules allow a QME or AME evaluation by video when no hands-on exam is needed, the dispute involves causation (AOE/COE), termination of indemnity benefits or work restrictions, all parties agree in writing, and the evaluator attests that no in-person exam is required. When a case meets these conditions, we coordinate the remote video evaluation for you.
Psych QME reports run long: detailed histories, extensive records and a written rationale for every impairment level. Our report workflow is built to carry that load.
Use our psych-specific report templates, or use your own. Either way, we format the final report to match your style.
Our intake staff contacts applicants ahead of time to gather background on their injury, complaints and treatment history, and compiles it into a Pre-QME report. Records are organized into a clear, structured summary before your evaluation date.
Clinical peer feedback and advice on report quality are available on request. Newly certified QMEs get personalized feedback on their first few reports and guidance from experienced QME physicians.
Every physician who joins receives a sponsored QME launch package, a $2,000 value. Already a QME? Your training is on us too.
Our online course covers report structure, medical-legal documentation standards, causation analysis, impairment discussions and how to write reports that are clear, objective and defensible. It includes seven PDF training modules, downloadable resources and expert live video sessions.
Every month, live webinars on starting and running a QME practice, report quality and how the distribution works, with time for your questions.
Sound Medical Evaluators schedules psychiatric and psychology QME evaluations all across California. Coverage is statewide: we schedule across Southern and Northern California and coordinate remote video evaluations where state rules allow. We match psychiatrists and psychologists to locations suited to their specialty, optimizing for case volume and keeping travel low.
We schedule psych evaluations all across California, in both Southern and Northern California, at locations matched to your specialty and availability.
When a case meets California’s remote-evaluation rules, we coordinate the video evaluation for you, wherever the evaluee is in the state.
When a panel request comes in, we confirm your availability across your locations and handle every call with attorneys and adjusters. Date coordination and notification forms are handled for you. Just tell us where you are available. Part of a growing network of physicians, with strategic placement in underserved areas. Meet our physicians.
Ask any QME management group these questions. Here are our answers.
| Question | Sound Medical’s answer |
|---|---|
| Do you publish the split? | Yes. A published 70% distribution per case, with psych examples shown in dollars on this page. |
| What does a psych case pay me? | A published 70% distribution on every psych case: for example, $2,821 on a $4,030 psych comprehensive, and $6,601 with a 2,000-page record review. |
| Is training included or sold separately? | Included: a sponsored launch package, a $2,000 value, with the Question Bank, live training webinars, training videos, exam enrollment and the report-writing course. |
| Can I keep my own report template? | Yes. Use our psych-specific report templates, or use your own. We transcribe, input and format to your style. |
| Do you help with depositions? | Yes. We schedule your depositions and help you prepare, and 70% applies to deposition fees. |
| Can I do psych evaluations by video? | When a case meets California’s remote-evaluation rules, we coordinate the remote video evaluation for you. |
| How often is live training offered? | Monthly live training webinars, included when you join. |
| Who types and checks my reports? | People. Human-verified transcription, plus a quality-assurance pass on every report. |
| Will I chase payments? | No. We handle invoicing, lien negotiations and collections. |
| Where will I evaluate? | Statewide, all across Southern and Northern California, at locations matched to your specialty, plus remote video evaluations where state rules allow. |
| Who answers my clinical-report questions? | Physicians. Doctor-to-doctor feedback on report quality is available on request. |
The requirements are set by the DWC in 8 CCR §11. In short:
New to QME? See our practice management for newly certified QMEs.
Already certified? See practice management for established QMEs, or learn more about our QME management company.
Every physician who joins receives a sponsored QME launch package, a $2,000 value: free access to our QME Question Bank, monthly live training webinars, training videos, exam enrollment, and sponsorship of the report-writing course. Everything you need to get certified and start evaluating.
Joining psychiatrists and psychologists receive free access to our Question Bank for renewal and refreshers, monthly live training webinars, training videos and sponsorship of the report-writing course, plus the same 70% distribution. Exam enrollment is included if you need it.
A psychiatric or psychology QME is a California-licensed psychiatrist or psychologist certified by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit to perform independent medical-legal evaluations in workers’ compensation disputes. The QME reviews the records, examines the injured worker and issues a medical-legal report that attorneys, claims administrators and judges use to resolve the disputed issue.
Under the DWC medical-legal fee schedule (8 CCR §9795), a comprehensive QME evaluation pays $2,015, and modifier -96 doubles it to $4,030 when a psychiatrist or psychologist performs the evaluation and the psychiatric or psychological evaluation is the primary focus. Psych follow-up evaluations pay $2,632.50, psych supplemental reports pay $1,300, psych AME evaluations pay $4,735.25, and deposition testimony pays $455 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Record review beyond the included pages pays $3 per page and is not doubled.
Sound Medical Evaluators pays psychiatrists and psychologists a published 70% distribution on every psych case, including comprehensive evaluations, follow-ups, supplemental reports, AME evaluations and depositions. For example, $2,821 on a $4,030 psych comprehensive, compared with $2,418 at a 60% split. Actual pay varies by case, records volume and contract terms.
Under 8 CCR §11, you need an unrestricted California license, and psychologists also need a doctoral degree and at least five years of postdoctoral experience treating emotional and mental disorders. You file QME Form 100 and Form 102 with the $125 exam fee, pass the QME Competency Examination, and complete a 16-hour disability evaluation report writing course and two hours of anti-bias training before appointment. Sound Medical Evaluators’ launch package includes Question Bank access, monthly live training webinars, training videos, exam enrollment and sponsorship of the report-writing course.
Yes, in limited cases. Under 8 CCR §46.3, a QME or AME may complete a medical-legal evaluation by video when a hands-on exam is not necessary, the dispute involves AOE/COE, termination of indemnity benefits or work restrictions, the injured worker, the carrier or employer and the QME agree in writing, and the QME attests in writing that no in-person exam is required. Sound Medical Evaluators coordinates remote video psych evaluations when a case meets these rules.
Sound Medical Evaluators handles panel scheduling, applicant intakes and Pre-QME summaries, record organization, human-verified transcription, psych-specific report templates (or your own), report formatting and quality review, deposition scheduling and preparation, required forms, billing, lien negotiations and collections. The psychiatrist or psychologist performs the evaluation and keeps full control of clinical decisions and final report content.
Sound Medical Evaluators schedules psych QME evaluations statewide in California, across Southern and Northern California, and coordinates remote video evaluations where state rules allow.
Yes. Reputable QME management companies operate within California DWC guidelines and ensure that administrative support does not interfere with a physician’s medical judgment. The psychiatrist or psychologist always retains full control over clinical decisions and final report content.
A 15-minute call for psychiatrists and psychologists. Bring your questions about fees, templates, training and locations.
Book a 15-Minute Intro CallFee figures reflect the California DWC medical-legal fee schedule (8 CCR §9795) for evaluations on or after April 1, 2021. Take-home examples are illustrations, not guarantees; actual fees and take-home pay vary by case, records volume and contract terms. QME certification and exam requirements are set by the California Division of Workers’ Compensation.
