If you are seeking compensation for a mental disability claim like post-traumatic stress disorder, you may be required to undergo what’s known as an independent psychological evaluation (IPE). But what is an IPE, and how does the evaluation factor in to your case? We explain in today’s blog.
What’s an IPE?
An IPE is an evaluation by an “independent“ psychologist to determine if you are suffering from a mental disability brought on by work events. We put independent in quotations because your company’s insurer selects the psychologist. The psychologist gets a bunch of information from the insurer, like your medical records, diagnoses, job duties and their understanding of the situation, and the psychologist looks to confirm or refute these assertions after meeting with the worker.
While it is important to be truthful during this meeting, you need to remember that the evaluator is not your friend. They are there looking to confirm beliefs held by the insurer, which can work against your claim. They will often try to word things to get you to support the insurer’s position, and while you need to be honest during this meeting, be wary about agreeing with broad statements they may suggest.
The IPE interview lasts anywhere from a half hour to a couple of hours, and you’ll undergo a series of psychometric tests during the evaluation.
IPE Reports
Once the evaluation is complete, the IPE evaluator will issue a report on their findings. This report will give a determination on:
- If you have a mental health diagnosis.
- If the diagnosis is related to specific incidents or work actions.
- Your functional capacity.
- Whether your current treatments are reasonable or necessary.
- Any future treatment recommendations.
Do not be surprised if the findings differ slightly or greatly from those of your treating physician. Again, the IPE evaluator is not your friend. It is important that you continue to follow the treatment recommendations of your treating physician and your workers’ compensation lawyer. The IPE evaluator’s goal is to confirm the insurance company’s beliefs, while your treating physician’s goal is to help you get better.
Although IPE’s are anything but independent, most lawyers recommend that their clients attend the session while keeping their guard up. The IPE plays a role in the award determination, and declining to attend will make it harder to convince a judge that you do in fact have a valid claim. However, if the insurer suggests that you undergo a second evaluation, possibly because they did not like the findings of the first evaluation, your lawyer will likely object to this meeting.
The best advice we can give to anyone who has suffered a work-related mental disability and is due to attend an IPE is to seek out a lawyer. We can protect your interests, because the evaluator certainly won’t. Also, we can prep you on the types of questions you might hear and how they might try to get you to agree to something that’s untrue. Do not attend an IPE without first talking to a lawyer. For more information or to get our assistance on the manner, contact Hey Workers today.
