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WCD WRME 440-4025: worker-requested medical exam after an IME denial: practical steps
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) · Shared Oregon or applicable federal route
WCD's May 2025 WRME guide gives examination eligibility, written request contents, insurer/agency responsibilities and scheduling steps after an IME-based claim denial.
Where and how to proceed: prepare, file and follow up
Start here: Check the specific WRME conditions in 440-4025: IME-based compensability denial, treating clinician disagreement and a timely WCB hearing request. A new medical opinion request is not the denial appeal itself.
1. Is this for me?
Workers whose insurer denied compensability based on an independent medical exam (IME), whose attending physician/authorized nurse practitioner disagreed, and who timely requested a WCB hearing on that denial. WCD determines WRME eligibility; it is not available merely because a worker wants another opinion.
Service area: Oregon or applicable federal route; confirm venue and agency jurisdiction.
2. What should I prepare?
Some documents may be conditional. Ask about alternatives. Checkmarks are temporary and are not saved or sent.
3. Where and how do I submit?
For a worker-requested medical examination (WRME), read publication 440-4025, preserve the separate WCB denial-hearing request, then send a written WRME request to WCD and the insurer with the listed worker/provider information, hearing-request date, denial letter and nonconcurrence documentation. Ask WCD which treating-clinician documentation applies in your case.
- Check the specific WRME conditions in 440-4025: IME-based compensability denial, treating clinician disagreement and a timely WCB hearing request. A new medical opinion request is not the denial appeal itself.
- Send the written WRME request and listed information to WCD and the insurer under the current official instructions. Ask WCD to confirm receipt and eligibility; WCD selects the examining provider.
- Follow the director's selection notice for scheduling and notices to insurer/WCB, then timely submit examination questions. Keep the appointment and records instructions; do not assume approval or schedule an unauthorized substitute exam.
Timing: Read the actual notice and current official instructions promptly. Confirm any request, appeal, review or response date with the appropriate agency/insurer; this guide does not calculate a case deadline.
4. What will it cost?
The WRME guide states the insurer/self-insured employer pays the authorized exam/report and reimburses qualifying related expenses such as travel, child care and lost net wages. Confirm authorization and documentation; this does not cover every privately arranged second opinion.
5. What happens after I submit?
Track WCD's written selection notice and the separate scheduling/notification and question-submission steps. The guide describes 14-day steps at different stages; confirm which event starts each interval. Keep the resulting report and ask the treating provider/representative about next steps.
6. What if something goes wrong?
WRME does not substitute for the WCB denial-hearing request, and claim-closure reconsideration is different. If a request is incomplete or an appointment cannot be kept, contact WCD/insurer promptly; a missed exam does not automatically entitle you to a replacement.
Language, disability and offline help
Ask WCD and the selected examiner about interpretation, disability access and travel/expense arrangements before the exam. The guide lists Ombuds Office help at 800-927-1271 and Spanish line 800-843-8086; no attorney relationship is created.
Choose your step and follow-up instructions
Work through the existing instructions for this route. Reviewing a step does not complete a legal requirement.
The PDF is dated 5/25 and the linked worker page must be read with it. An attorney is not required to request a WRME, but eligibility and any exceptions must be confirmed. Follow the director's selection notice, scheduling/notification and question-submission instructions; no examination or claim acceptance is guaranteed.
Sources for the added submission and follow-up details
Reviewed 2026-10-18. Read current publisher instructions before acting.
Retained evidence SHA-256: 63325db621b7457780fe8bd7663b9d68762cb0a6cce2ec180eb632e9e5101880
Retained evidence SHA-256: 6d69660bae8e5138a5fd7956a654bd907811dd80287803c6b7310bef88a57664
Sources and review date
Guidance reviewed 2026-10-18. Read the current publisher instructions before acting.
Worker-Requested Medical Exam · publisher pdf
Captured evidence SHA-256: 63325db621b7457780fe8bd7663b9d68762cb0a6cce2ec180eb632e9e5101880
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division : Independent and worker-requested medical examinations : Worker : State of Oregon · publisher html snapshot
Captured evidence SHA-256: 6d69660bae8e5138a5fd7956a654bd907811dd80287803c6b7310bef88a57664
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