The Review of Insurer Examination Companies document reviews the current landscape of insurer-independent medical examination (IME) providers in Ontario’s auto insurance system, analyses inefficiencies and costs, and proposes a lean, made-in-Ontario solution for dispute resolution and process improvement.
- Integrating a clinician-led assessment approach would reduce reliance on foreign owned third-party insurance examination companies while continuing to require regulated healthcare professionals to perform assessments, thereby removing intermediary administrative layers and lowering overall assessment costs.
- The quality and competence of Ontario healthcare professionals are already governed by rigorous college standards and continuous professional oversight. By contrast, many insurance examinations are conducted by professionals who do not provide rehabilitation services, with expertise defined within a financial services framework rather than through an integrated healthcare quality system.
- Redirecting assessment work away from foreign-owned intermediaries and toward Ontario-based regulated healthcare professionals would retain expertise and spending within the province while reducing unnecessary administrative duplication and is a win to Protect Ontario.