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MetLife, You Can't Use 'Employees' As Independent Medical Examiners!

Posted on Jul 23, 2009

More about IMEs and their questionable independence, here's a judge that actually took a look at the facts and figures and really cut into the Doc.

In the case of Solomon v. MetLife, the insurer hired an "independent" doctor to review Ms. Solomon's file to determine if benefits should be awarded. Here's an excerpt from the Judge Sweet's decision in which he hammers MetLife and Dr. Amy Hopkins:
            
         "Although MetLife describes Dr. Hopkins as an 'independent reviewing physician,' she derived 99% of her income in the years 2002-2004 from paper medical reviews for third parties, 58% to 63%, or over $100,000, of which was derived from reviews for MetLife. To the extent Dr. Hopkins relied on MetLife for over half of her income, she was not 'independent' at the time she reviewed Solomon's file."

Now there's a judge looking at the right things and who's unwilling to put up with insurance shenanigans. Don't think that the racket going on between Hopkins and MetLife is a unique either. I've blogged about it before and witnessed it plenty of times. Read the entire opinion on Solomon v. MetLife and it's independent medical reviewer here .

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Ben Glass is a Fairfax, Virginia attorney who specilizes in Long-Term Disability insurance claims dealing the ERISA.

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