Independent Neuropsychological Examination

Definition

This is the neuropsychological version of an independent medical exam (IME). Independent neuropsychological examinations (INEs) are performed by neuropsychologists who are hired as independent contractors by third parties (e.g., insurance company, disability carrier) to make determinations regarding a claimant’s neuropsychological functioning. They typically occur in civil cases (e.g., personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability) cases but might also arise in criminal litigation (e.g., to assess competency to stand trial and issues of responsibility for the crime). The responsibilities of the neuropsychologist in the context of performing an INE differ from those of the clinical examination, and there are several areas of distinction between an independent exam and a clinical exam. One primary difference is the nature of the doctor-patient relationship. In the INE, the neuropsychologist is hired as an independent contractor by a third party or the court to make a...