❓ A parliamentary question addresses potential conflicts of interest for doctors on WorkCover medical assessment panels and the lack of appeal options for claimants regarding impairment level decisions. The Minister denies a conflict of interest exists due to restrictions on panel membership and defends the panel's final decision-making authority.
AnsweredQoN 3255Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) does the Minister regard it as a conflict of interest that doctors may sit on WorkCover medical assessment panels to determine medical disputes in the workers’ compensation jurisdiction and concurrently perform injury assessments of claimants for insurance companies; (c) if not, why not; (d) has the Minister considered allowing claimants in the workers’ compensation system to appeal decisions made by medical panels about their level of impairment to a merits review tribunal; and (e) if not, why not?
(c) if not, why not; (d) has the Minister considered allowing claimants in the workers’ compensation system to appeal decisions made by medical panels about their level of impairment to a merits review tribunal; and (e) if not, why not?
(d) has the Minister considered allowing claimants in the workers’ compensation system to appeal decisions made by medical panels about their level of impairment to a merits review tribunal; and (e) if not, why not?
(e) if not, why not?
(b) No. (c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel. (d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel. (d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(e) Not applicable
(c) if not, why not; (d) has the Minister considered allowing claimants in the workers’ compensation system to appeal decisions made by medical panels about their level of impairment to a merits review tribunal; and (e) if not, why not?
(d) has the Minister considered allowing claimants in the workers’ compensation system to appeal decisions made by medical panels about their level of impairment to a merits review tribunal; and (e) if not, why not?
(e) if not, why not?
(b) No. (c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel. (d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel. (d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body. (e) Not applicable
(e) Not applicable
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2004
Responded by
Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection
Response time
38 days
(a) WorkCover records the names of doctors who sit on medical panels. Insurers do not provide WorkCover with information on doctors used by them.
(b) No.
(c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel.
(d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body.
(e) Not applicable
(b) No.
(c) A medical practitioner who has examined or treated the worker is not eligible to sit on the panel.
(d) Yes, several alternative processes for medical panels were considered during the development of the Workers' Compensation Reform Bill. The final decision however was that medical assessment panels comprise 3 medical practitioners who meet together for the purpose of providing an independent assessment and determination. As such it is appropriate for the panel to be the final determinative body.
(e) Not applicable
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.