Independent Medical Appeals, LLC (IMA) is a Louisiana based independent review organization (IRO). IMA was formed as a result of new Louisiana Healthcare mandates passed into law requiring Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s), Third Party Administrators (TPA’s), Insurance Companies, Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO’s), Self Funded Employers and Government entities to utilize an external independent review to adjudicate appeals. IMA provides that service.

IMA delivers expert, cost – effective and unbiased reviews and consultations. IMA delivers quality independent medical review in a timely manner. Our review process insures that the reviewing physicians making decisions for medical necessity are of the same medical specialty as the treating physician requesting the healthcare service. We perform medical reviews outside of the client’s operations, therefore there is no pressure to make medical determinations in favor of one party. Our physicians are licensed, board certified independent and neutral.

IMA’s panel of physicians provide primarily criteria based medical necessity reviews. These reviews usually involve the use of clinical and practice guidelines as they relate to medically necessary treatment and cover a wide range of medical conditions and / or diagnoses. We do other types of reviews such as evidence based medical necessity / experimental / investigational reviews, opinion based, benefit coverage reviews and quality of care reviews on a case by case basis. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have in regards to the types of external review services IMA can provide.