Designated Doctors
Common questions and helpful answers
regarding designated doctors, required medical examinations (RME),
certified medication examinations,
independent medical examinations (IME), and more.
Common Questions
- What is a Designated Doctor?
- How do I become a Designated Doctor?
- What is a Required Medical Examination, Certified Medication Examination, or an Independent Medical Examination?
- Who is our competition?
- Why choose us?
- How much money will I save by using the services provided by Designated Doctors Outsourcing, LLC?
- Why do you not reimburse for the travel expenses or provide medical office space for the examinations like other companies?
- Can I do my own billing?
Helpful Answers
1. What is a Designated Doctor?
A Designated Doctor is appointed by the Division of Workers Compensation to recommend a resolution of a dispute as to the medical condition of an injured worker pertaining to issues such as:
- Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)
- Determination of existence of permanent impairment (IR)
- Return to work status (RTW)
- Evaluation of Medical Care (EMC)
- Any other medical questions regarding the injured workers medical condition
In order to serve as a Designated Doctor, a physician must be certified through the Division of Workers Comp and be appointed to the (ADL) Approved Doctors List and additionally certified to perform MMI and Impairment Rating Examinations.
2. How do I become a Designated Doctor?
Please go to www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/hcprovider/irtraining.html for instructions regarding the process for becoming certified according to the regulations set forth by the Texas Department of Insurance.
We have found the following agencies and web sites helpful for learning more about the training required for becoming a designated doctor:
- American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (www.aadep.org)
- American Academy of Expert Medical Evaluators (www.aaeme.com)
3. What is a Required Medical Examination, Certified Medication Examination, or an Independent Medical Examination?
Required Medical Examinations (RME) may be requested by the Division of Workers Comp, insurance carrier for the employer, employee, or the employee representative. In order to serve as a RME Doctor, a physician must be certified through the Division of Workers Comp and be appointed to the (ADL) Approved Doctors List.
Certifying Doctor Examination is performed by a doctor who is certified through the Division of Workers Comp to perform Maximum Medical Improvement and Impairment Rating Examinations. A Certifying Doctor Examination is requested by the injured employee's treating physician for the determination of Maximum Medical Improvement and/or Impairment Rating Assessment
Independent Medical Examinations (IME) render impartial medical opinions with regards to a patient’s medical condition due to a work related matter, personal injury, general liability, or auto injury utilizing the appropriate criteria for the case.
4. Who is our competition?
We have no competition. We are the only designated doctor outsourcing company that does not employ physicians, but we provide the only web-based software that will enable physicians to document and transmit designated doctor and independent medical reports through a secure web-based portal.
5. Why choose us?
Simply for the fact that we will offer you a service that will simplify and lessen the work required for worker compensation medical reports. We essentially streamline your medical reports, simplify your documentation, provide a means for rapid communication through the Internet, and provide billing services at a low fixed cost. You will be able to conduct business anytime and anywhere without the need for a business office. If more profit and less work combined with the opportunity to conduct your medical affairs from Starbucks is not reason enough, then I do not know what to tell you.
6. How much money will I save by using the services provided by Designated Doctors Outsourcing, LLC?
After performing a review analysis of the medical fee schedule for designated doctor reports and personally performing my own billing, I believe that out of the 45-55% of your income that is taken out by designated doctor staffing agencies, providers should expect to keep about 90% of their expected income. Medical providers will also have the flexibility to schedule where and when patients will be seen, while also taking advantage of the tax savings that is generated by paying for their own business expenses required for the medical examinations.
7. Why do you not reimburse for the travel expenses or provide medical office space for the examinations like other companies?
Although we do not reimburse for the exam site or travel expenses, we feel that the estimated 7% of your income which is offset by these business costs is negligible compared to the revenue and tax advantages which is provided by you independently financing them yourself. The negligible low cost per report combined with physicians paying for their own work-related expenses, which is tax-deductible, is reason enough for a physician to strongly consider our services in order to maximize their income. The web site, software, and integrated data input system which streamlines the reporting requirements for a designated doctor report more than justifies switching over to DDO for a physician that is self-employed and desires to work independently to maximize their income.
8. Can I do my own billing?
The answer is yes. Physicians chose what services they would like to outsource through DDO. We do offer a low cost, fee for service per report for conducting the billing services for our clients. We will also review the reports to ensure that the report’s documentation fulfills all the coding requirements necessary for a good bill. The insurance payment goes to the physician. We generate a monthly bill that is directly sent to the physician. Physicians can also take advantage of the tax savings for expenses spent for our low cost services. We make sure you get paid and see what you receive for your hard work.
