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Telehealth IME vs In-Person Exam — What States Allow

Telehealth has entered workers' comp IME-adjacent work narrowly: Texas allows MMI certification by telemedicine only for minor, non-impairment cases, and Washington's fee schedule lists specific telehealth-eligible services — most IMEs still require in-person examination.

2 sections·2 sources·Verified 2026-08-15 ✓
01

Why impairment ratings stay in person

Rating depends on reproducible clinical measurement (ROM, DRE findings) and observation of effort — both hard to validate remotely. Texas explicitly excludes impairment-rating exams from the telemedicine allowance.

02

What to check

State telehealth rules change quickly; the tracker on this hub will be refreshed quarterly. Verify current rules before scheduling.

Key facts

Texas (2025)

MMI by telemedicine allowed for minor injuries, no impairment; impairment ratings excluded (28 TAC 133.30)

Washington (2025)

MARFS Chapter 24 lists telehealth-eligible IME-adjacent services; most IMEs in person

Impairment rating

Not permitted via telemedicine in the verified rules

Verdict

Telehealth is an exception, not the default

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Last verified: 2026-08-15