When can a party request an additional Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) evaluation?
When the existing QME lacks a needed medical specialty to fully address disputed issues; parties may request an additional panel.
What is a replacement QME panel?
A new panel issued by the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) Medical Unit when the original panel cannot serve (e.g., conflict, unavailability, improper specialty).
Mnemonic for “additional vs replacement”
Add = New specialty needed; Replace = Original can’t serve.
Who issues replacement panels?
The Medical Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) upon request with proper justification.
Timeframe to request a replacement panel after learning of a conflict?
Within five business days of discovering the conflict or disqualification basis.
What reasons justify a replacement panel?
Conflicts of interest, unavailability (no appointment within 60 days), improper specialty assignment, withdrawal, or death of the QME.
Mnemonic for replacement reasons
CUPID — Conflict, Unavailable, Proper specialty wrong, Ineligible, Death/decline.
What must the requesting party include in a replacement panel request?
Case info, reason for replacement, supporting documentation (e.g., QME unavailability notice, conflict evidence).
Is party agreement required to request a replacement QME?
No — either party may request if statutory grounds exist.
What if both parties agree to a new specialty?
They may jointly request a replacement panel in the mutually agreed specialty from the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
Who decides if the original panel’s specialty was improper?
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) Medical Director reviews the case facts and job duties to confirm the correct specialty.
When does a replacement panel clock restart?
When the new panel is issued, timelines for QME selection and strike process restart.
Can a QME be replaced if they refuse to see the injured worker in a timely manner?
Yes — if they cannot schedule an evaluation within 60 days, a replacement panel may be requested.
Mnemonic for 60-day rule
“60 or Switch” — no appointment in 60 days = request replacement.
What documentation supports an unavailability-based replacement request?
Written proof of delay (appointment refusal letter, call log, scheduling attempt records).
What happens if a QME retires or relocates before exam?
The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) issues a replacement panel upon request with evidence of retirement or relocation.
May a replacement panel be issued if the QME loses certification?
Yes — decertification triggers automatic replacement.
What is a consultation in the QME process?
A referral from the primary QME to another physician for specialty input on a specific medical question.
Who pays for a consultation requested by the QME?
The claims administrator/insurer, as it is part of the medical-legal evaluation process.
Mnemonic for consultation payment
“Consult = Carrier Covers.”
When can a QME refer for a consultation?
Only when medically necessary and relevant to the workers’ compensation dispute.
Is the consulting physician considered the QME of record?
No — the original Qualified Medical Evaluator remains the evaluator of record; the consultant provides input only.
What must the QME include in the request for consultation?
Clear clinical question, specialty needed, and how it relates to disputed medical issues.
-
Batch 4 (Cards 106 – 140) from Section II — Permanent Disability Determination (deep dive: apportionment, AMA traps, cancer presumption, reporting/ethics, exam hacks):36
-
Batch 5 (Cards 141 – 150) to complete the 150-card deck for Section II — Permanent Disability Determination ✅11
-
Here is Batch 1 (Cards 151–180): PDD section II31
-
Here’s Batch 2 (Cards 181–210) — Advanced PD Determination with deeper case law, AMA quirks, benefit timing exceptions, and fresh mnemonics: Question Answer31
-
Batch 3 (Cards 211 – 240) — more advanced PD / AMA / benefit law traps + strong new mnemonics:31
-
Batch 4 (Cards 241 – 255) — advanced Permanent Disability Determination traps with extra mnemonics:16
-
Batch 4 (Cards 256 – 270) — finishing the advanced set to 270:16
-
acronym flashcard deck covering all abbreviations & mnemonics we used in the 270-card PD section (plus earlier core sets).61
-
Batch 1 (Cards 1 – 30) for III. Apportionment Determinations (Causation + Risk Factors & Unlawful Discrimination) — exam-ready with mnemonics:31
-
Batch 2 (Cards 31 – 60) for III. Apportionment Determinations — Causation & Risk Factors/Unlawful Discrimination (exam-ready, with mnemonics)31
-
Batch 3 (Cards 61 – 90) for III. Apportionment Determinations — Causation & Risk Factors / Unlawful Discrimination (exam-ready with mnemonics)31
-
Batch 4 (Cards 91 – 120) for III. Apportionment Determinations — Causation & Risk Factors / Unlawful Discrimination (same exam-ready Q | A | Mnemonic format)31
-
Batch 5 (Cards 121 – 150) for III. Apportionment Determinations — Causation & Risk Factors / Unlawful Discrimination (same Q | A | Mnemonic exam-ready format)31
-
Advanced Apportionment — Block 1 (Cards 151 – 200)51
-
Advanced Apportionment — Block 2 (Cards 201 – 250) (deep case law + exam hacks + new mnemonics, same table format)51
-
Advanced Apportionment — Block 3 (Cards 251 – 300)51
-
Substantive Medical Disputes Resolved by QMEs — LC §§4060-4062 (Disputes over compensability, permanent disability, and all other med-legal issues.) 1-5051
-
IV. Substantive Medical Disputes — Block 2 (Cards 51 – 100)51
-
IV. Substantive Medical Disputes — Block 3 (Cards 101 – 150) (finishing the 150-card deck on LC §§4060–4062)51
-
Block 1 (~35 flashcards) from V. QME Selection Process — Labor Code §4062.1 (Unrepresented) & §4062.2 (Represented)35
-
V. QME Selection Process — Labor Code §4062.1 & §4062.2 (continuing):36
-
V. QME Selection Process – Labor Code 4062.1 & 4062.2)85
-
Section VI: Benefit Delivery & Math (this covers temporary disability (TD), permanent disability (PD), AWW calculations, penalties, benefit timing, and related rules).37
-
Benefit Delivery & Math — Batch 2 (Cards 36–70) with deeper exam-style details + mnemonics:35
-
Benefit Delivery & Math — Batch 1 (Cards 1–35) rewritten with every acronym fully spelled out:37
-
Benefit Delivery & Math — Batch 3 (Cards 71–105)36
-
Benefit Delivery & Math — Batch 4 (Cards 106–140)39
-
Benefit Delivery & Math — Batch 5 (Cards 141 – 175)37
-
Batch 6 (Cards 176 – 210) (rare exam traps, presumption exceptions, psych apportionment nuances, AMA quirks, penalty & rating pitfalls).37
-
I’ll start with Section VI.A – Scheduling and Cancellation of Appointments (p. 19). Here is Batch 1 (≈35 cards) in the format you like:36
-
Batch 2 (Cards 36 – 70) for Section VI.A – Scheduling & Cancellation36
-
Batch 3 (Cards 71 – 105) for Section VI.A – Scheduling & Cancellation:37
-
Subsection A1 – Remote Health Medical-Legal Evaluations (Telehealth) — Batch 1 (Cards 1 – 40) (Q | A | Mnemonic style with full acronyms spelled out once)40
-
Subsection A1 – Remote Health Medical-Legal Evaluations (Tele-QME) — Batch 2 (Cards 41–80):41
-
Subsection A1 – Remote Health Medical-Legal Evaluations (Tele-QME) — Batch 3 (Cards 81–120):41
-
e’s Section VI.B – Information to be Provided to the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) — Batch 1 (Cards 1–40):40
-
Section VI.B – Information to be Provided to the QME — Batch 2 (Cards 41–80):41
-
Section VI.B – Information to be Provided to the QME — Batch 3 (Cards 81 – 120):41
-
VI.B – Information to be Provided to the QME:41
-
VI.C — Ex-Parte Contact (Cards 1–40)40
-
VI.C — Ex-Parte Contact (Cards 41–80)39
-
VI.C — Ex-Parte Contact (Cards 81–120)40
-
📚 VI.D — Conflict of Interest Disclosure (Cards 121 – 155)37
-
VI.D — Conflict of Interest Disclosure (Cards 156 – 190)39
-
Section E — Examination Disclosures (Cal. Code Regs., Title 8, § 40) (first 35–40 flashcards in your Q | A | Mnemonic format with acronyms spelled out).36
-
VI.E — Examination Disclosures (Cards 226 – 260)37
-
VI.F — Ethical Obligations of the QME (Cards 261 – 295)37
-
VI.F — Ethical Obligations of the QME (Cards 296 – 330)36
-
VI.G — Evaluation Protocols (Cards 331 – 365)38
-
VI.G — Evaluation Protocols (Cards 366 – 400)37
-
VI.H — Face-to-Face Time (Cards 401 – 435)37
-
VI.H — Face-to-Face Time (Cards 436 – 470)36
-
VI.I.1 — Report Content (Cards 471 – 505)38
-
VI.I.2 — Report Disclosures (Cards 506 – 540)38
-
VI.I.3 — Anti-Self-Referral (Cards 541 – 570)31
-
VI.I.4 — Substantial Evidence (Cards 571-605)36
-
VI.I.4 — Substantial Evidence (Advanced/Exam Traps) — Cards 606-64037
-
VI.J — Types of Reports & Reevaluations (Cards 671-705)38
-
VI.K — QME Unavailability (Cards 776-810)37
-
VI.K — QME Unavailability (Cards 811-845)38
-
VI.L — Additional, Replacement Panels & Consultations (Cards 846-880)38
-
VI.L — Additional, Replacement Panels & Consultations (Cards 881-915)37
-
Here’s Section L — Additional, Replacement Panels & Consultations40
-
Here’s the start of Section M — Timeframe for Service of Reports & Timeframe Extensions (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 38) Block 1 (Cards 951 – 985)41
-
Block 2 (Cards 986 – 1020) — advanced rules, penalties, and deeper testable points40
-
Here’s Section M — Timeframe for Service of Reports & Timeframe Extensions (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 38) Block 3 (Cards 1021 – 1055)42
-
Here’s the start of Section N — Service of Reports (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, §§ 36 & 36.7) Block 1 (Cards 1056 – 1090) — delivery rules, proof of service, and common test pitfalls38
-
Section N — Service of Reports (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, §§ 36 & 36.7) Block 2 (Cards 1091 – 1125) — advanced electronic service rules, WCAB issues, and tricky exam points38
-
Here’s Section N — Service of Reports (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, §§ 36 & 36.7) Block 3 (Cards 1126 – 1160) — service disputes, penalties, audit traps, and exam-proven memory hacks40
-
start of Section O — Retention of Reports & Return of Records (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 39.5) Block 1 (Cards 1161 – 1195)39
-
Section O — Retention of Reports & Return of Records (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 39.5) Block 2 (Cards 1196 – 1230) — r40
-
Section O — Retention of Reports & Return of Records (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 39.5) Block 3 (Cards 1231 – 1265) —44
-
Section M: Timeframe for Service of Reports & Extensions now. Here’s Block 1 (Cards 1231 – 1265) in the Question | Answer | Mnemonic36
-
Block 2 (Cards 1266 – 1300) for Section M – Timeframe for Service of Reports & Extensions, with clear acronyms spelled out and mnemonics:35
-
Section M – Timeframe for Service of Reports & Extensions35
-
Section N: Service of Reports (Cards 1336 – 1370)37
-
here’s Block 2 (Cards 1371 – 1405) for Section N – Service of Reports (advanced scenarios, audit traps, test hacks).36
-
here’s Section O – Retention of Reports & Return of Records (First Block 1 — Cards 1441 – 1475,35
-
Block 3 (Cards 1406 – 1440) for Section N – Service of Reports (penalties, audit traps & exam hacks).37
-
Section O – Retention of Reports & Return of Records Block 2 — Cards 1476 – 1510 (advanced retention scenarios, audits, retirement tips). All acronyms are fully spelled out.35
-
More acronyms15
-
Block 1 – Acronyms (Cards 1 – 50)53
-
Block 2 – Acronyms (Cards 51 – 100)60
-
Block 3 – Acronyms (Cards 101 – 150)56
-
here’s Block 4 (Cards 151 – 200) of acronyms from the DWC QME Study Guide Competency Examination Study Guide (fully expanded).18
-
Block 1 (Cards 1 – 50) of flashcards from your PDF “Important Timeframes in Workers’ Compensation Cases”.48
-
Block 2 (Cards 51 – 100) from your PDF “Important Timeframes in Workers’ Compensation Cases”.48
-
Here’s Block 3 (Cards 101 – 150) — continuing the flashcards from “Important Timeframes in Workers’ Compensation Cases.”49
-
) from your Overview AOE/COE document, in your preferred format — clear Q | A with full expansions for acronyms and useful mnemonics:26
-
Batch 2 (Cards 26 – 50) from the Overview AOE/COE document — continuing the same Question | Answer | Mnemonic style, with all acronyms spelled out:26
-
’s Batch 3 (Cards 51 – 75) from the Overview AOE/COE document, continuing the Question | Answer | Mnemonic format with full acronym expansions:26
-
Batch 4 (Cards 76 – 100) from the Overview AOE/COE document, continuing the Question | Answer | Mnemonic format with all acronyms spelled out:26
-
Batch 5 (Cards 101 – 125) from the Overview AOE/COE document, continuing the Question | Answer | Mnemonic format with all acronyms spelled out:26
-
e Deardorf Suicide Causation document (Batch 1 — first 25 cards).26
-
Batch 2 (Cards 26 – 50) from Deardorf Suicide Causation — continuing in the same Question | Answer26
-
Batch 3 (Cards 51 – 75) from Deardorf Suicide Causation — keeping the Question | Answer | Mnemonic style and spelling out acronyms where used:26
