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Permanent impairment assessors

The information for permanent impairment assessors will differ depending on which system you work in.

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Motor accidents

Workers compensation

Motor accidents

A permanent impairment assessor is a registered medical practitioner recognised as a specialist with qualifications, training and experience relevant to the body system or systems being assessed.

In brief

A permanent impairment assessment is used to measure how much permanent change has happened to the injured person’s body because of their injury.

Your assessment can involve medical assessments, reports and information about the person's injuries and recovery. You should consider all available evidence and be satisfied that there is:

  • an impairment arising from an injury caused by the accident
  • an injury to the part being assessed and that it was caused by the accident
  • an impairment as defined at clause 6.9 of the motor accident guidelines.

You should use the permanent impairment assessment examination checklist when documenting the clinical findings specific to the assessment of the spine, upper and lower extremity, and nervous system.

If you have a question about permanent impairment, email wpienquiryMAIR@sira.nsw.gov.au for a response within five working days.

Permanent impairment assessors must adhere to the motor accidents code of conduct and terms of appointment.

Publications you might need

In addition to the publications above, the guidance material below outlines the recommended approach for assessing different injuries.

Fees and invoicing

The medical assessor fee schedule for medical and review panel assessments sets the rates payable to assessors of permanent impairment.

Find other Fees Orders in Resource library.

What can I do to get paid quickest?

To facilitate prompt payment, we suggest you:

  • include the appropriate service code/s with your invoice
  • issue the account in the form of a tax invoice and include the:
    • injured person’s name
    • date of accident
    • insurer’s reference/claim number
    • provider’s ABN, address and GST (if applicable)
  • send accounts directly to the CTP Green Slip insurer. It is difficult to ensure timely submission of accounts by other parties (for example, an injured person or their solicitor)
  • direct all enquiries about payment to the claims officer you have been dealing with.

Workers compensation

A permanent impairment assessor is a registered medical practitioner trained to assess a worker's permanent impairment as a result of a work related injury or illness.

In brief

A permanent impairment assessor is a registered medical practitioner recognised as a specialist with qualifications, training and experience relevant to the specific body system or systems being assessed.

To provide services within the NSW workers compensation system, you must be a trained assessor of permanent impairment for each body system you intend to assess. You may be one of the worker’s treating specialists or you may be engaged on behalf of the worker, employer or insurer for the purposes of assessing the level of permanent impairment.

A permanent impairment assessment is used to measure how much permanent change has happened to the worker’s body because of their injury.

In assessing permanent impairment, the assessor must determine:

  • whether the worker's condition has resulted in impairment
  • whether the condition has reached maximum medical improvement
  • whether the impairment is permanent
  • the degree of permanent impairment that results from the injury
  • the proportion of permanent impairment due to any previous injury, pre-existing condition or abnormality.

How do I become a permanent impairment assessor?

In order to become a permanent impairment assessor you are required to:

Becoming an assessor of permanent impairment explains the process and requirements to become listed as an assessor of permanent impairment. Applicants may apply to be listed using the assessor of permanent impairment application.

You can use our online search tool to find a permanent assessor (or to see who's listed).

Training in the evaluation of permanent impairment

Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victoria’s education business unit, AMA Training has partnered with AMA NSW to provide training in the evaluation of permanent impairment in the NSW workers compensation system.

For more information on the course, refer to our Training and workshops page.

To register, contact AMA Training on (03) 9280 8722 or email amatraining@amavic.com.au.

Publications you might need

These documents also provide additional information:

Fees and invoicing

The 2018 Medical Examinations and Report Fees Order sets the rates payable to assessors of permanent impairment. Find other Fees Orders in our Resource library.

What your invoices will need to include

  • worker's first and last name, and claim number
  • payee details
  • ABN
  • name of the medical practitioner or service provider who provided the service
  • SIRA workers compensation approval number or medical practitioner's Health Insurance Commission provider number (where applicable)
  • date of service
  • SIRA workers compensation payment classification code or AMA item number where applicable. Refer to either the claims technical manual for:
  • service cost for each SIRA workers compensation payment classification code or AMA item number and service duration (if applicable)
  • date of invoice (must be on the day of or after last date of service listed on the invoice)

To prevent delays in payment, these details will need to be provided on all invoices.

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