If you have a workers’ compensation claim in Arizona, the insurance carrier, your employer, or the Industrial Commission of Arizona can require you to attend an Independent Medical Examination, known as an IME. Arizona Revised Statutes 23-1026 and Administrative Code R20-5-114 set the rules: you generally have to go, but you also get 15 days’ written notice, paid travel, the right to have your own doctor present, and a copy of the report. Miss the appointment and your benefits stop.
Who Can Send You and How Often
Three parties can request an IME: the Industrial Commission of Arizona, your employer, or the insurance carrier.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment The statute says examinations can happen “from time to time,” so there is no fixed cap. Carriers commonly schedule one before deciding whether to accept or deny a claim, before closing a claim, or when they question whether ongoing treatment is still necessary. The carrier can also use the IME physician’s opinion to change the status of your claim.2Industrial Commission of Arizona. Claims – About Independent Medical Evaluations
You do not get to pick the doctor. The requesting party does.
Notice, Location, and Travel Costs
The party requesting the IME must serve you, or your attorney if you have one, with written notice at least 15 days before the exam. The notice must state the time, date, location, and name of the examining physician.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief Fifteen days is the floor. A shorter notice is a procedural problem worth raising.
The location has to be reasonably convenient given your physical condition and ability to travel. A city outside where you live can still qualify if it is where you were injured and the employer or carrier pays your travel costs in advance. Those advance costs cover transportation, food, lodging, and lost wages where applicable.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment
If you have moved out of Arizona, the employer or carrier can require you to return to the state for an IME once per year, provided they pay your reasonable travel expenses up front.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment
What You Can Do at the Exam
Bring Your Own Doctor
You have the right to have your own physician present during the IME, but you pay for it.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment That cost is not trivial, but a doctor in the room can document exactly which tests were performed, how thorough the exam was, and whether the eventual report matches what actually happened. For disputed injuries, it can be worth the money.
Telehealth Only by Agreement
An IME can be conducted through telehealth, but only if both you and the requesting party agree.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment Neither side can force a virtual exam on the other. Under Arizona law, telehealth covers video and, in limited situations, audio-only telephone encounters when video is not reasonably available. Fax, voicemail, and email do not qualify.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 36-3601 – Definitions
Get a Copy of the Report
Once the carrier or self-insured employer receives the IME report, it must immediately provide a copy to you or your authorized representative.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief One narrow exception: if the exam evaluated your mental health and you are not represented by an attorney, the carrier may route the report to your treating physician instead. Read it closely when it arrives. If the findings misdescribe what happened during the exam or contradict your treating physician’s records, those gaps matter if the claim reaches a hearing.
Objecting Before the Exam
If the request feels unfair, you can file a motion for a protective order with the Industrial Commission. An administrative law judge decides whether you must attend.2Industrial Commission of Arizona. Claims – About Independent Medical Evaluations The ALJ can excuse you if the exam is unnecessary, would duplicate exams you have already had, or could reasonably be scheduled with an appropriate physician closer to home.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment
The employer or carrier carries the burden of justifying any location other than where you live.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment The Commission can also cancel the exam or set conditions on how it happens, including the time, place, and examining physician, if good cause exists to protect you from undue burden or expense.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief
The clock is short. You have three days from receiving notice of the exam to file the motion, with copies to all parties. The requesting party then has three days to respond.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief Miss that three-day window and you likely lose the right to object.
What a protective order will not do: excuse you because you dislike the chosen doctor, or because you think your own physician has already covered the same ground. The Industrial Commission has said those are not valid grounds.5Industrial Commission of Arizona. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Division – Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If You Skip
Refuse to attend or obstruct the examination and your right to workers’ compensation benefits is suspended until the exam takes place. No benefits accrue during the suspension, so you cannot collect them retroactively once you finally comply.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 23-1026 – Periodic Medical Examination of Employee; Effect of Refusal or Obstruction of Examination or Treatment Persistent refusal can also lead to your hearing request being dismissed.5Industrial Commission of Arizona. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Division – Frequently Asked Questions
Even without an outright refusal, a no-show without prompt notice can cost you. The requesting party can charge you for the reasonable cost of the missed appointment or deduct that amount from your current or future disability benefits.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief If something genuinely prevents you from attending, contact the requesting party right away to reschedule.
Challenging the Findings at a Hearing
An IME report is not automatically the final word. Either side can offer the report at an ALJ hearing, and the opposing party can cross-examine the IME physician.3Legal Information Institute. Arizona Administrative Code R20-5-114 – Examination at Request of Commission, Carrier or Employer; Motion for Relief The ALJ weighs the IME against your treating physician’s records, your testimony, and other evidence before issuing a written decision.
Preparation matters if you plan to dispute the findings. File medical records supporting your position with the ALJ at least 25 days before the hearing and send copies to the opposing attorney. If you need your treating physician to testify, request a subpoena at least 20 days before the hearing. Medical witnesses typically appear by videoconference or telephone.5Industrial Commission of Arizona. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Division – Frequently Asked Questions