These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the information at Working with the TAC.

Who can carry out independent medical examinations?

Independent medical examinations and TAC requested medico-legal reports can only be provided by an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) approved by us from one of the following professions:

  • medical practitioner
  • dentist
  • optometrist
  • physiotherapist
  • chiropractor
  • osteopath
  • podiatrist
  • psychologist
  • neuropsychologist
  • occupational therapist

An impairment assessor is an IME who has successfully completed the relevant training from the ministerially approved training course in the application of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Details of this training can be found at www.iatvic.com.au

What we can pay for

We can help pay the reasonable costs of examinations we request to determine a client’s initial or ongoing entitlement under the Transport Accident Act 1986.

Report requirements

Requirements for independent medico-legal reports include:

  • The report should include answers to the specific questions relevant to the management of a client’s claim. We will have forwarded these questions to you as part of our request for the report. If any questions are not applicable or are unable to be answered, you should document this in the report.
  • The report should be thorough and integrate information from your clinical examination, history obtained and review of other available medical and non-medical information.
  • The basis of any opinions expressed in your report should be explained to assist non-medical users of your report to understand your opinion.

Other requirements include:

  • Your invoice, with the relevant TAC item number, should be submitted with the report.
  • The report should be submitted to us within 10 working days after the examination. If this timeframe cannot be met, please contact us.

How much we can pay

We can help pay for services in line with our fee schedules for independent examinations and reports.

What we cannot pay for

We cannot pay for:

  • the same medico-legal report provided more than once, such as a reissue of a previous report or multiple copies
  • a medico-legal report we have not requested, unless it is a joint medical examination (see the JME Policy)

Also see general items we cannot pay for.

For more information

Access our policies for health and support services.