Workers’ Compensation Psychological Services
PNBC offers psychological and neuropsychological evaluations at the level of consults, QME, and AME. Psychological treatment services are also provided for work comp patients. Here is our current MPN list. Prior to agreeing to treat work comp patients, our providers require authorization for a consult to determine a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Consultation-level evaluations are performed objectively, and we only see patients in therapy when the evaluation determines that there is a true psychiatric condition that is treatable. Our providers specialize in treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, behavioral treatment for chronic pain conditions, and adjustment related to other medical or neurologic conditions. We are able to provide therapy services in Spanish.
Dr. Silva is certified as a psychological Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). Because neuropsychology is no longer considered a QME specialty, it would be advised to designate Dr. Silva as an Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME) for medical-legal neuropsychological evaluations, or request authorization from the claims adjuster for Dr. Silva to perform an evaluation as a medical-legal one. She is board-certified in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Her conclusions are based on empirically-based interpretations of the test data, and consistency of the medical records with the claimant’s self-report.
To Make a Referral:
Please fax the written authorization from the claims’ adjuster for the service being requested to (866) 437-0375, along with patient demographics and available medical records. The following describe the verbiage that should be used in the authorization letter.
- “Psychological Consultation” describes an initial evaluation with psychological testing for the purpose of diagnostic clarification or treatment planning. Pre-surgical psychological evaluations also qualify as consultations. Consultations may lead to a treatment relationship with the patient, should the results of the evaluation determine that the patient is an appropriate candidate for therapy. Opinions regarding causation and permanent disability will not be addressed if the doctor is a secondary treater.
- “Neuropsychological Consultation” includes full cognitive and psychological testing for the purpose of diagnostic clarification or treatment planning. Consultations may lead to a treatment relationship with the patient, should the results of the evaluation determine that the patient is an appropriate candidate for therapy. Opinions regarding causation and permanent disability will not be addressed if the doctor is a secondary treater.
- “Medical-Legal Neuropsychological Evaluation” if there purpose of the evaluation is to determine causation and impairment ratings for the claimant’s cognitive and/or psychological symptom. Since neuropsychology is no longer considered a QME subspecialty, requesting specific authorization for a “medical-legal neuropsychological evaluation” is recommended when med-legal opinions are needed.
- “Psychological consultation + six sessions CBT” is recommended to expedite the process of approving therapy sessions. At PNBC, we require initial psychological evaluations of all patients prior to seeing them for therapy, to determine an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as assess whether the patient is an appropriate candidate for therapy.