Insurers' information on referring a worker to a medical assessment tribunal

Medical assessment tribunals consist of up to five expert medical specialists who provide a fair and independent assessment of workers' compensation medical matters. Only a workers' compensation insurer may refer a worker to a tribunal.

Most matters referred to a tribunal relate to:

• conflicting medical opinions about whether the injury is work-related
• a claim previously accepted by the insurer but with uncertainty about whether there is any ongoing incapacity from the work-related injury
• assessing the degree of permanent impairment resulting from a work-related injury.

Tribunal members make a collective decision about the worker’s injury based on a clinical examination and information from the worker’s claim file supplied by the insurer and any additional information provided by the worker or their representative. The tribunal decision is final however a worker may seek a further hearing based on fresh medical evidence supplied within a 12 month period.

Tribunal Secretariat staff are available to assist you over the phone or deliver a presentation to your staff about medical assessment tribunals.