If the employer objects to the report and the employee is unrepresented, the administrative director will do which of the following to obtain a second opinion?

• A. Orders a new independent medical exam
• B. Appoints a neutral medical advisor
• C. Grants the employee a new hearing
• D. Randomly selects an orthopedic surgeon/ neurosurgeon for a second opinion

Answer: (D)

When a medical report is objected to and the employee is unrepresented, the system uses a neutral, unbiasing second medical opinion to settle the dispute. The administrative director obtains this by randomly selecting a physician from a pool of qualified specialists, typically an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon, to review the case. This random draw ensures the second opinion comes from an expert with relevant specialty focus while avoiding influence from either side, which helps establish a credible basis for decisions about impairment, work restrictions, or treatment. Other paths like ordering another IME directly, appointing a neutral medical advisor, or granting a new hearing aren’t the mechanism described for obtaining the second opinion in this situation.