In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses the latest findings from The Guardian Group's "State of Qualified Medical Evaluator Reporting 2025: Stakeholder Survey Report." The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of Qualified Medical Evaluator reports within California's workers' compensation system, highlighting significant areas of concern and potential improvements. The Guardian Group, a prominent firm in the medical-legal industry, aims to enhance the standard of medical-legal reporting by establishing and promoting best practices. The survey, conducted in late 2024, gathered insights from over 6,000 stakeholders, including applicant attorneys, defense attorneys, and claims adjusters, revealing a sharp decline in satisfaction with Qualified Medical Evaluator reports.

The survey findings indicate a significant drop in stakeholder satisfaction, with only 18.6 percent of respondents satisfied with the quality of reports in 2024, compared to 37.1 percent in 2023. Key areas of dissatisfaction include the use of evidence-based medical findings, thoroughness of medical analysis, and timeliness of Maximum Medical Improvement classifications. To address these concerns, The Guardian Group has introduced "The Good Qualified Medical Evaluator," an advanced learning series aimed at improving the quality and reliability of reports. This initiative focuses on enhancing objectivity, clarity, and reducing delays in reporting. For more information and to access the full report, visit The Guardian Group's website.