1. (a) Appointment. Appointment of physicians to the list of qualified independent medical examiners, and maintenance and periodic validation of such list shall be by the Commission. Physician appointments shall be for a two-year period.

2. (b) Application for appointment. To request appointment to the list of qualified independent medical examiners, a physician shall:

   1. (1) Submit a signed and completed Commission prescribed IME Application and Physician Disclosure forms online via CaseOK or to the following address: Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission, Attention: HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION, 1915 North Stiles Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105. Illegible, incomplete or unsigned applications and disclosures will not be considered by the Commission and shall be returned. A copy of the IME Application and Physician Disclosure forms may be obtained from the Commission at the address set forth in this Paragraph or from the Commission's website at http://www.wcc.ok.gov;
   2. (2) Submit a current curriculum vitae, together with the IME Application and Physician Disclosure forms, to the address set forth in the preceding Paragraph; and

   3. (3) Verify that the physician, if appointed, will:

      1. (A) provide independent, impartial and objective medical findings in all cases that come before the physician;
      2. (B) decline a request to serve as an independent medical examiner only for good cause shown;
      3. (C) conduct an examination, if necessary, within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of the order appointing the examiner, unless otherwise approved by the Commission, when necessary to render findings on the questions and issues submitted;
      4. (D) prepare a written report in accordance with Commission rules which addresses the issues set out in the order of appointment;
      5. (E) submit the report to the parties and the Commission within fourteen (14) calendar days of a required examination of the claimant and/or completion of necessary tests, or within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of necessary records and information if no examination and/or tests are required;
      6. (F) accept as payment in full for services rendered as an independent medical examiner the fees established pursuant to the Fee Schedule;
      7. (G) submit to a review pursuant to 810:15-9-3 and 85A O.S. § 112(H);
      8. (H) submit annually to the Commission written verification of valid health care provider professional liability insurance as and if required in 810:15-9-1;
      9. (I) notify the Commission in writing upon any change affecting the physician's qualifications as provided in 810:15-9-1; and
      10. (J) comply with all applicable statutes and Commission rules.
3. (c) Disclosure. As part of the IME Application, the physician shall identify, on the Physician Disclosure form, any ownership or interest in a health care facility, business or diagnostic center that is not the physician's primary place of business, including any employee leasing arrangement between the physician and any health care facility that is not the physician's primary place of business. Failure to do so is grounds for the Commission to disqualify the physician from providing treatment under the AWCA.
4. (d) Alternative group application agreement. Appointment of physicians to the list of qualified independent medical examiners may also be made by agreement, pursuant to 810:15-9-1(c).

Added at 31 Ok Reg 486, eff 2-4-14 (emergency)

Added at 32 Ok Reg 1480, eff 8-27-15

Amended at 41 Ok Reg, Number 22, effective 8-14-24

Amended at 42 Ok Reg, Number 21, effective 8-1-25