Independent medical review

Let's say you have a boo-boo on your arm and your mommy takes you to see the doctor. The doctor gives you some medicine to help make your boo-boo better, but your mommy doesn't think the medicine is working. She wants to ask another doctor if the medicine is the right one for you.

This is kind of like what happens in independent medical review. Sometimes grown-ups get sick or hurt and they go to the doctor. The doctor gives them medicine or treatment to help them feel better. But sometimes, the grown-up or their insurance company disagree with the doctor about what should be done next.

That's where independent medical review comes in. Another doctor who was not part of the original decision will look at all the information about the grown-up's health and the medicine or treatment they were given. They will then decide if the medicine or treatment was the right one or if something else should be done to help the grown-up feel better. The decision that the second doctor makes is called an independent medical review.

Think of it like asking another grown-up if they think you should wear a band-aid on your boo-boo or if you need to go see the doctor again. It's a way to make sure that everyone is doing the best they can to help you feel better.