What Is an Agreed Medical Evaluation (AME)?
An Agreed Medical Evaluation (AME) is a type of medical-legal assessment used in workers’ compensation cases to resolve disputes about an injured worker’s medical condition. In simple terms, it is an evaluation performed by a doctor who is mutually agreed upon by both legal parties involved in a claim.
Understanding the agreed medical evaluation definition is important because AMEs are often misunderstood or confused with other medical examinations used in workers’ compensation. While the process itself is governed by specific legal rules, this article focuses on the meaning of AME and the key terms commonly associated with it.
Agreed Medical Evaluation Definition
The agreed medical evaluation meaning refers to a formal medical-legal evaluation conducted by a neutral physician, known as an agreed medical examiner. This doctor is selected by mutual agreement between the parties involved in a dispute, typically through their attorneys.
In an AME medical evaluation, the physician reviews medical records, examines the injured worker, and prepares a written report addressing disputed medical issues. These may include injury causation, the extent of impairment, or the need for future medical care. The goal is to provide a clear, unbiased medical opinion that can help move a workers’ compensation case forward.
In workers’ compensation systems, AMEs are used to reduce prolonged disputes by relying on a single agreed-upon medical opinion rather than competing evaluations.
AME Meaning in Workers’ Compensation
The AME definition in workers’ comp is closely tied to dispute resolution. When there is disagreement about medical findings, an AME offers a structured way to clarify those issues through an independent medical opinion.
Unlike routine treating physician visits, an AME is part of a medical-legal evaluation definition, meaning the doctor’s role is not treatment, but objective assessment. The resulting report becomes part of the legal record and may influence negotiations or decisions within the claim.
This is why AMEs are often referenced in discussions about medical-legal processes alongside other evaluation types used in workers’ compensation.
What Is an Agreed Medical Examiner?
An agreed medical examiner is the physician selected to perform the AME. This doctor must act neutrally and limit the evaluation to the specific issues outlined for review.
The agreed medical examiner does not advocate for either party. Instead, the role is to provide an independent analysis based on medical evidence, clinical findings, and established medical standards. This neutrality is what gives AME reports their significance in workers’ compensation disputes.
Why Understanding AME Terminology Matters
Knowing what AME means in workers’ compensation cases helps injured workers, physicians, and other stakeholders better understand how medical disputes are evaluated. Clear definitions reduce confusion and set appropriate expectations about the purpose and limits of an AME.
This glossary-style overview is designed to provide clarity without overlapping with detailed eligibility rules, timelines, or procedural requirements covered elsewhere in the workers’ compensation system.