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If you’re stepping into the role of medico-legal expert or planning to start an admin agency, this question must have crossed your mind: how much does a medico-legal report actually cost? Well, just like the complicated nature of cases, workflow, and regulations, the pricing is also pretty complex. As there’s no clear answer to it, the actual price of providing a medico-legal report is decided based on various factors, from the nature of the case to the time taken. Whether you are setting your own fee to charge for a medico-legal report preparation or budgeting for a case expense, it is highly crucial to be clear about the pricing structure in the medico-legal domain. In this blog, we’ll discuss all the factors involved in deciding the fee for the case.
First, let’s have a closer look at medico-legal practice by breaking down the workflow so you are clear on how the report is prepared and how the pricing works in the medico-legal world.
What is a Medico-Legal Report?
A medico-legal report is written by a medico-legal expert, who is assigned a case within their expertise, to examine it from a medical aspect. A medico-legal expert, also known as an expert witness, conducts an in-depth assessment and prepares a detailed medico-legal report to present the findings in court and support the legal claim. Therefore, a medico-legal report isn’t just a medical assessment report; it carries significant value as medical evidence, which drives the outcome of the case. Now, it won’t be wrong to say that with great importance comes the great responsibility of tailoring a factual, objective and impartial report. Which, of course, isn’t an easy job when you have several cases, a deadline to meet and a whole set of regulatory guidelines to comply with.
Now, let’s break down the workflow: a medico-legal expert receives the instruction letter, typically from an admin agency or a solicitor acting on behalf of the claimant, defendant or insurer. Then, after a detailed examination, the expert witness prepares a comprehensive and compliant report, addressing the specific aspects per case requirements, including background, medical history, present symptoms, diagnosis, prescribed treatment and recovery time.
When is a Medico-Legal Expert Paid?
The payment timelines for medico-legal experts can vary depending on the case and the agreement with the instructing party. In some cases, the expert witness receives a fixed upfront fee after submitting the report, whereas in others, payment is deferred until the claim is resolved. So, in short, it all depends on the agreement, which can even include interim invoices and a late payment clause if all parties mutually agree on those terms.
Who Pays the Medico-Legal Expert?
Another common confusion regarding a medico-legal report is: Who pays for it? Let’s break down the medico-legal report fee coverage and recovery.
• If the claimant has insurance:
If the claimant has legal expense insurance, the cost of the medico-legal report is covered under that. However, the individuals who don’t have insurance to cover it might have to pay for the report themselves (at least initially).
• Deferred payment options:
Some admin agencies and experts offer flexibility to clients who can’t afford to pay upfront, allowing them to pay later under a deferred payment agreement.
• Upfront payment:
Agencies and expert witnesses have the right to ask for upfront payment. If you prefer to receive payment before starting the medico-legal report, it’s important to communicate this to the claimant in advance.
• Payment recovery:
If the claim is successful, luckily, the cost of the medico-legal report is usually also included in the legal expenses claimed from the defendant.
Tip: As a medico-legal expert or an admin agency, it is best to clearly communicate fee terms beforehand, with all parties involved, especially with the claimant.
What Factors Influence the Report Cost?
As there is no straightforward fee for a medico-legal report, the cost is influenced by several factors, such as:
• Expertise & Qualification
The first factor that determines the fee for a report is the experience and qualification of the medico-legal expert. Generally, expert witnesses with years of experience charge more than newly qualified ones. This is because an experienced medico-legal expert can bring more credibility and a good reputation to the table, which can positively contribute to the outcomes of your claim.
• Complexity of Injuries
Secondly, the complexity of the case is another deciding factor for the fee. Of course, the more complicated the case, the higher the cost, due to the amount of effort and time required to assess, comprehend and translate it into the legal report. For example, for cases like minor injuries, the fee will be much less than for an intricate medical negligence case.
• Time & Effort Required
The medico-legal expert’s time and effort invested in assessment, evaluations, and report writing are all billable and determine the fee. Typically, the basic assessment report costs much less than the fee charged for a comprehensive report with detailed analysis and review statements.
• Type of Report
Not all medico-legal reports are priced the same; moreover, the type of report being produced is one of the most significant factors that impact the cost. For example, a report that requires an in-depth review of the patient’s medical records will generally cost more than a basic report based solely on a physical examination. Reviewing hundreds of pages of GP records, hospital notes, or imaging reports adds time and complexity, naturally increasing the fee.
• Urgency & Deadline
Sometimes, the claimants need a medico-legal report within a very short span of time. In the cases where the report is prepared within 48 hours, the additional charges are included in the standard fee to compensate for the extra effort required to meet the tight deadline.
Role of Medico-Legal Case Management System & Report Writer
Handling medico-legal cases and preparing different types of reports every day isn’t an easy task. However, Medqon has created software solutions to simplify it for you. Whether you are a medico-legal expert or an admin agency, we offer a medico-legal case management system that is customisable to your needs, workflows and region’s regulatory requirements. Moreover, this software can be integrated with our Report Writer Software, which enables you to create compliant reports with built-in templates in a few minutes.
Get it today to reduce effort, save time, and enhance the efficiency of your medico-legal practice! Contact us to book a demo!