![]() The Government also worked with industry to develop the OIC service which provides a platform which enables claimants to take forward their claims following the implementation of the Government’s whiplash reforms. An additional measure to increase the small claims track limit for road traffic accident (‘RTA’) related personal injury (‘PI’) from £1,000 to £5,000 was also taken forward at this time. These important reforms introduced a fixed tariff of compensation for whiplash injuries and a ban on the use of pre-medical offers to settle such claims. In addition, on, as part of its commitment to tackling the continuing high number and cost of whiplash claims, the Government also implemented the measures in Part 1 of the Civil Liability Act 2018. These changes to MedCo’s scope, along with the new offer, were important in ensuring that the provision of medical reports following the implementation of the whiplash reforms continued to be dealt with in an efficient and effective manner. Additionally, the fixed cost medical report (FCMR) regime was extended to cover all medical reports for RTA-related personal injury claims up to a value of £5,000 (although no changes were made to the level of the available FCMRs).įinally, a new MedCo ‘offer’ was developed and implemented for unrepresented claimants seeking a medical report via the new OIC service. These changes were designed to ensure that medical report providers were efficient and well-run, with effective and transparent consumer protection policies and procedures.įurther changes restricted the provision of medical reports for unrepresented claimants to physiotherapists, GPs and Accident and Emergency consultants only. New qualifying criteria and rules for Medical Reporting Organisations (MROs) and Direct Medical Experts (DMEs) wishing to provide medical reports to unrepresented claimants were also introduced. ![]() MedCo’s remit was expanded to encompass the provision of all medical reports for RTA-related personal injury claims up to a value of £5,000. ![]() In late 2019 MoJ confirmed changes to the MedCo process to ensure that all those who chose to provide medical reports to both represented and unrepresented claimants following the implementation of the whiplash reforms were competent to do so. The Government first implemented fixed recoverable costs for medical reporting in 2014 and this was followed by the establishment of the MedCo process in 2015. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice Executive Summary This consultation seeks input, submissions and evidence on these important issues from all stakeholders with an interest in the provision of good quality independent medical reports. Therefore, we have decided that it is an appropriate time to consult on a number of medico-legal reporting issues related to the MedCo process, fixed cost medical reports and the implementation of the OIC service. However, the Government understands that there have been increasing financial pressures on the sector over the last two years following the implementation of the whiplash reforms and the more recent wider economic conditions. The industry continues to provide services to both represented and unrepresented claimants seeking good quality medical reports in support of their claims through the Official Injury Claim (OIC) service. This has resulted in better customer service operations and greater use of technological solutions to reduce the operational costs associated with the processing of medical reports. Those operating in the sector have adapted to these pressures and altered their working practices over the last two years. These changes are attributable not just to the whiplash reforms but also to the societal impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures. However, since the introduction of the most recent measures to tackle the number and cost of whiplash claims in May 2021, there has been both a reduction in claims volumes and changes in claimant behaviour. ![]() The medico-legal sector has continued to change and evolve over the years since 2014 in response to Government reform. The Government remains committed to engaging with interested stakeholders from across all sides of the PI and medico-legal sectors and the publication of this consultation document is an important part of that engagement. ![]()
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