Whiplash panel entry rules 'anti-competitive'
May 21st, 2015
The organisation created to run panels of independent whiplash experts is taking legal advice over concerns that the scheme is anti-competitive.
Complaints have been registered that the biggest medical reporting organisations are filing multiple registration applications to give themselves a greater chance of being picked through the MedCo allocation system.
Solicitor firms running claims can choose from one national provider and six second-tier organisations to carry out whiplash diagnosis.
The Law Gazette revealed last month that the four biggest MROs have each submitted two applications to be top-tier providers.
One of the biggest MROs, Speed Medical, has been reported this week to be registering at least 10 entries for the second tier. The company is reported in some forums to be appearing in some form in 45% of searches, although it is important to note this does not breach any existing rules.
A spokesman for Speed Medical said it was one of several MROs to make mutiple applications, which were necessary to maintain the existing business.
It is understood several complaints have been made to MedCo about anti-competitiveness, and the organisation has now started auditing registered companies to ensure compliance.
There are concerns among some MedCo board members that the regulations as set out by the Ministry of Justice are harming the intention of the panels, which was to ensure financial incentives are taken out of whiplash diagnosis and fraudulent or exaggerated claims are reduced.
Source: http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/whiplash-panel-entry-rules-anti-competitive/5048943.article
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