I agree. My AME is clearly trying to protect the insurance company in his report.

I think the IME doctors swear an oath to protect the insurance companies.

Ugh...I hear you and I am sorry you have to deal with it.

At my one IME...the doctor said he was seriously concerned about my health...thought I should be hospitalised...had me wait while he called the lawyers to tell them I needed to be in the hospital...then came back and said I could go home. Report cane back stating I was basically fine...no mention of the hospitalization he thought I needed or whatever but lots of misleading statements that implied I was exaggerating my pain without stating it outright.

Saw that same IME doctor about 3 or 4 years later and he repeatedly told me that he remembered me and that he had called the lawyers and did I ever get to the hospital? Ummm...????? Dude.. I read your report. I can't say if you did or didn't call any lawyers about the hospitalization you thought I needed...I know MY lawyer didn't get a call and I sure as heck know it wasn't in your report. You've sold your soul to the insurance companies that pay your bills and I sure as heck don't trust you. Not that I said any of that of course but...really??

So...know you are not alone...though I know that is little comfort.

If you have been approved for SSDI then Medicare must approve a set aside amount in order to close out the medical portion of your case. On the one hand this is ideal, but it sure seems like the best way to comply with all this requires is to use a service to manage the funds and all the requirements, so it's also complicated.

My lawyer said I am getting open medical, nothing else was offered. It could be, because I am not eligible for SS disability.

It took me years to get to pain management. Godsend.
PM doctor was the first person to take me seriously.
I recently got a private, cash doctor, close enough to home that I can ride my scooter over there. Was there yesterday in the middle of this flare. I'm now 28 hours into it. It literally knocks me down.
What was I trying to say?
I hired my own psych too. Cash. Found her while researching ketamine infusions and paid for a round of that. I can't afford her either. WC denied her. They denied ketamine too. I need her. Maybe today I can mooch a ride to her office. She usually keeps hours on Saturday.
I need to prepare a cost estimate for future medical bills. I can barely stand up.

Same here. I have had CRPS for years and had a work related accident couple years ago that exasperated the disease. First IME perfect. Nice guy performed the exam with the utmost professionalism. Second IME horrible. Report said I was faking it, could go back to work no restrictions, nothing but a muscle strain. I was actually traumatized, both physically and psychologically. He kept claiming no doctor patient relationship when I questioned him on all this behavior. Case manager really hyped him up. Wrote the book on crps, will really help you, bla, bla, bla...
This does not give them the excuse to abuse us. Never again! My MD insisted I report him. I have since read he got away with this for years.

At times like these I thank my booty for generalized health care here in Belgium. Gosh you guys have it so hard, especially under this administration.

It is not clear to me what has already changed with Obamacare.

How are you guys experiencing that?

If you were fine, you would not be begging for help or paying for it out of pocket. It’s a red flag. You would think they would get this.

WC law varies from state to state so this does not always hold true. In MA your WC carrier owns your medical care for life so there is no way around their corrupt system.

I once had an IME (requested/paid by the insurance company) with a very well respected hand surgeon. His report agreed with everything my pain doc and hand surgeon said. Once the insurance company saw the report they made him amend it. The main body of the report stayed the same except and addendum that stated he received new information that led him to the conclusion that it was all in my head! I don't know how he can note the color change, etc in my arm, but then state I'm crazy. Apparently I am a magician that can make my arm change color, swell, etc. on demand.

The bottom line is that the WC system in this country is rigged towards the insurance company.