The agreed medical examiner offers clear recommendations on work restrictions and future treatment, helping guide fair and efficient case outcomes.
Serving California
Agreed Medical Evaluations (AME)
An Agreed Medical Evaluation (AME) is a medical-legal evaluation used in workers’ compensation California cases when both parties agree on a single medical examiner. An AME serves as an alternative to a QME, offering a more streamlined process when consensus is reached between the injured worker and the employer or insurer.
Who Is an Agreed Medical Examiner For?
An agreed medical examiner is ideal for agreed medical evaluation workers compensation cases where both parties seek a neutral, efficient medical-legal opinion. It works best when faster resolution, reduced disputes, and mutual agreement on the evaluator are priorities.
Injured Workers
An agreed medical evaluator helps injured workers receive a fair and timely AME evaluation California when both sides agree on one expert. This approach reduces delays, limits disputes, and provides a clearer path toward benefit resolution.
Employers & Insurance
For employers and insurance carriers, an agreed medical evaluator offers a predictable California AME evaluation process. It helps control costs, reduce prolonged disputes, and obtain a reliable medical-legal opinion both sides can trust.
Attorneys
Attorneys use an agreed medical evaluator to streamline complex cases and avoid panel selection risks. An AME evaluation California allows greater control over the expert choice and supports efficient case resolution.
definition
What Is an Agreed Medical Evaluation?
An agreed medical evaluation is a medical-legal process used when both parties select the same agreed medical examiner to assess an injured worker’s condition. It provides a single, neutral opinion that helps resolve disputes efficiently.
In an agreed medical evaluation, the agreed medical examiner reviews medical records, performs an examination, and issues a comprehensive report. This evaluation addresses causation, disability, work restrictions, and future care, and is widely used to streamline workers’ compensation cases.
Role of the Agreed Medical Examiner
Independent Medical Authority
An agreed medical examiner acts as a neutral AME doctor California, providing an unbiased medical-legal opinion trusted by both parties in workers’ compensation cases.
Comprehensive Case Evaluation
The agreed medical examiner reviews medical records, conducts examinations, and evaluates causation, disability, and functional limitations with clinical accuracy.
Legally Relevant Reporting
An AME doctor California prepares a detailed medical-legal report that supports claim resolution and is relied upon by attorneys, insurers, and the court.
Dispute Reduction
By using a single agreed medical examiner, parties reduce conflicts, delays, and procedural challenges common in contested evaluations.
Expert Guidance on Future Care
comparison
AME vs QME: Key Differences
An AME evaluation in California is used when both parties agree on a single medical examiner, allowing for a more streamlined and cooperative process. In contrast, a QME is selected through a panel process when no agreement exists.
AME evaluations often lead to faster timelines, fewer disputes, and greater control over the choice of physician, while QME evaluations follow stricter procedural rules and may involve more formal steps.
| Criteria | AME Evaluation | QME Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Examiner Selection | Mutually agreed by both parties | Selected from a state-issued panel |
| Process Flexibility | Higher | Limited |
| Timeline | Typically faster | Often longer |
| Level of Dispute | Lower | Higher |
| Use Case | Agreement between parties | No agreement reached |
Our AME Physicians
When both parties seek clarity, neutrality, and efficiency
One Examiner. One Evaluation. Clear Outcomes.
Our Agreed Medical Evaluations provide a streamlined medical-legal solution when consensus matters. By working with a mutually selected examiner, cases move faster, disputes are reduced, and outcomes are based on a trusted, independent medical opinion tailored to California workers’ compensation standards.
Who pays for an agreed medical evaluation?
In an agreed medical evaluation, payment is typically handled according to workers’ compensation rules and agreements between the parties. Costs are often shared or allocated based on case specifics, making the process more predictable and avoiding disputes over examiner fees.
Is an AME report legally binding?
An AME report carries significant legal weight in workers’ compensation cases. Because the agreed medical examiner is jointly selected, the findings are generally relied upon by both parties, attorneys, and the court unless strong evidence supports a challenge.
How long does an AME evaluation take?
The timeline for an AME evaluation is usually shorter than a QME process. Scheduling is more flexible, and once the examination is completed, the agreed medical examiner typically issues the report within established statutory or agreed timelines.
Can an agreed medical examiner be replaced?
Replacing an agreed medical examiner is uncommon and usually requires mutual consent or a valid legal reason. Because both parties agree to the AME upfront, changes are generally limited to exceptional circumstances.