OrthoLegal Insights:
Commentary from our
QME Experts.
OrthoLegal’s commentary is written for the people in California’s medical-legal system: orthopaedic QMEs and AMEs, the attorneys who read their reports and the injured workers the reports are about. New posts cover evaluations, report writing, apportionment, case law and practice management, twice a week. Start with our page on QME evaluations or the page for physicians.
Asymptomatic Conditions and Apportionment: Lindh Lessons for the California QME
A police officer sustains several blows to the head during canine training. He experiences severe headaches. Some weeks later, while off duty, he suddenly loses ...
Read More
Working Smarter: How QMEs Can Make the Most of Their Time
Doctors considering QME work are opening the door to a great opportunity, but they risk taking on a monumental task. For those who have mastered ...
Read More
Causation of Injury vs. Causation of Permanent Disability: What QMEs Need to Know
An employee trips over a piece of equipment at work and injures his knee. After reviewing the history, medical records, and mechanism of injury, a ...
Read More
When Medicine Meets the Law: The QME’s Role
Workers’ compensation is inherently collaborative, bringing together professionals from different fields with unique roles, responsibilities, and perspectives. Within this collaboration, attorneys and QMEs may rely ...
Read More
SB 291: Strengthening Contractor Compliance, Clarifying the QME Role
Starting January 1, 2026, California’s SB 291 takes a firmer approach to uninsured contractors by increasing penalties and strengthening enforcement of workers’ compensation coverage in ...
Read More
Supporting the QME and AME Process with Early Medical-Legal Documentation
In California workers’ compensation, Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) and Agreed Medical Evaluators (AMEs) play a central role in resolving disputed medical issues. Their evaluations are ...
Read More
Supporting the QME and AME System: Why Qualified and Agreed Medical Evaluators Are More Important Than Ever
In California’s workers’ compensation system, medical-legal (ML) evaluations are the cornerstone of fairness and clarity in resolving disputed claims. Yet, both applicants and providers frequently ...
Read More
From Fabrication Floor to Medical-Legal Report: SB 20 and the QME Role
Several California laws taking effect January 1, 2026 address occupational exposure risks in specific work environments. SB 20 (Menjivar) Occupational Safety: High-Exposure Trigger Tasks on Artificial Stone focuses on silica exposure ...
Read More
AB 1293 and QMEs: Administrative Updates Designed to Support Medical-Legal Practice
Beginning January 1, 2026, AB 1293 (Wallis) will introduce procedural updates affecting how Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) receive requests for evaluation and organize medical-legal reports ...
Read More
From Injury to Impairment: What Whole Person Impairment Means for an Injured Wor
When an injured worker undergoes a medical-legal evaluation in a California Workers’ Compensation case, one of the most important determinations made by the physician is ...
Read More
Not All Medical-Legal Reports Are Created Equal — Here’s Why QMEs and AMEs Stand Out
In California’s workers’ compensation system, Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) and Agreed Medical Evaluators (AMEs) carry a heavy responsibility. They must produce impartial, comprehensive reports that ...
Read More
Contested Claims in Focus: What Triggers a Legitimate QME or AME Evaluation
In the world of California workers’ compensation, the term “contested claim” carries significant meaning for Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) and Agreed Medical Evaluators (AMEs). Knowing ...
Read More