FL WC EMR. Program: Florida Workers Compensation
Program Role: Physicians are utilized by the Division and Judges of Compensation Claims as Expert Medical Advisors to render expert medical opinions, peer review and expert testimony to resolve disputes related to reimbursement, differing opinions of health care providers, and health care and physician services rendered in accordance with subsection.
In Florida, an Expert Medical Advisor (or “EMA”) is asked by a workers’ compensation judge to resolve certain controversies. A judge must order an EMA if either party requests one. They also must be called when there is a disagreement between two independent medical examiners. A judge may also choose to call an EMA when doctors disagree about the medical evidence in the case, when doctors disagree about whether further treatment is necessary and when doctors disagree about an employee’s ability to come back to work. The EMA’s opinion is given a legal presumption of correctness. This presumption can be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary of the EMA’s opinion.
Qualification: To qualify as an EMA, a physician must possess a current clear and active
Florida Department of Health license and must be board-certified in a specialty area appropriate to address medical issues arising from the treatment of occupational health diseases and injuries. Once a physician is certified as an EMA, the certification will be valid for a period of two years. However, if at any time during the certification period, the physician no Longer meets all qualifications for certification, the EMA shall be decertified and removed from the Certification List, which is why it is important to verify the EMA’s license status prior to engaging an EMA for services.
