TITLE 8. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
DIVISION 1. DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
CHAPTER 1. DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION-QUALIFIED MEDICAL EVALUATOR

Article 3. Assignment of Qualified Medical Evaluators, Evaluation Procedure

§39.5. Retention of Records by QMEs.

(a) All QMEs shall retain a copy of all comprehensive medical-legal reports completed by the QME for a period of five years from the date of each evaluation report. A QME may satisfy this requirement by retaining only an electronic copy of the report, as long as the electronic copy retained is a true and correct copy of the original, showing the QME signature, that was served on the parties. Upon written request, a QME is required to return original radiological films, imaging studies and original medical records to the person who supplied the original records to the QME or to the injured worker.

(b) An evaluator shall submit all comprehensive medical/legal reports performed as a QME under this article to the Medical Director upon request for a review by the Medical Director. Failure to submit evaluations upon request by the Medical Director may constitute grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to Section 60.

   Note: Authority cited: Sections 133, 139.2(j)(1) and 5307.3, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 139.2, 4060, 4061, 4062, 4062.1, 4062.2, 4064 and 4062.5, Labor Code; and Section 14755, Government Code.

 HISTORY 

   

1. New section filed 8-23-96; operative 9-22-96 (Register 96, No. 34).

2. Amendment filed 4-14-2000; operative 5-14-2000 (Register 2000, No. 15).

3. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 1-13-2009; operative 2-17-2009 (Register 2009, No. 3).