Research and analysis

MedCo qualifying criteria - stakeholder engagement exercise

The Ministry of Justice sought views on introducing supplementary qualifying criteria for MROs wishing to provide medical reports to unrepresented claimants.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Published: 24 February 2020
• Last updated: 25 February 2021 — See all updates

Documents

Government response

PDF, 479 KB, 47 pages

MedCo: Revised and new supplementary qualifying criteria - stakeholder engagement exercise

PDF, 232 KB, 10 pages

Annex A - revised qualifying criteria

PDF, 380 KB, 18 pages

Annex B - statement of financial links

PDF, 169 KB, 4 pages

Details

Government response

Following the implementation of the whiplash reforms in May 2021, MedCo’s role will be extended to cover all road traffic accident related personal injury claims valued at no more than £5,000. To ensure that medical reporting organisations (MROs) opting-in to provide medical reports to unrepresented claimants have robust customer service systems and procedures, MOJ undertook a survey between 21 February and 11 March 2020 on new supplementary qualifying criteria (QC). The document published today (25 February 2021) provides an analysis of the responses received along with copies of the new and revised QC and declaration of financial links. MROs opting-in to provide reports to unrepresented claimants will be audited against the new QC and details on how to opt in and of the audit process will be published shortly. A response to a similar survey for direct medical experts on revisions to the MedCo rules has also been published on GOV.UK.

Survey

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) response to the ‘Future Provision of Medical Reports’ committed to introducing supplementary qualifying criteria for medical reporting organisations (MROs) wishing to provide medical reports to unrepresented claimants.

MOJ has worked closely with MedCo to develop these criteria and are seeking views on:

• new supplementary criteria
• updates to the existing criteria
• a revised statement of financial links
• whether MROs will opt-in to provide reports to unrepresented claimants

The revised criteria only apply to MROs, but responses from all MedCo users are welcome. To take part in the survey, please download and read the revised criteria and financial links survey from this page and then complete the online survey or email a completed questionnaire to whiplashcondoc@justice.gov.uk.

Published 24 February 2020
Last updated 25 February 2021 + show all updates

1. 25 February 2021

   Government response published.

2. 24 February 2020

   First published.