Changes in the QME Population and Medical-Legal Trends in California Workers' Compensation
This study tracks changes in the composition of the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) population in California workers' compensation in terms of medical specialty representation and geographic availability, comparing data on medical providers certified as QMEs in 2012 and in 2017. The study also uses 2007 - June 2017 claims data to examine changes in the level of services rendered by evaluators, the mix of services, average payments for all medical-legal services and for specific levels of service, and the proportion of evaluations performed by AMEs vs. QMEs.