Medical Assessor Guidance Note No 9 withdrawn

06/01/2016

Guidance note 9 - Assessment of resection arthroplasty

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has withdrawn Medical Assessor Guidance Note No 9. Assessment of resection arthroplasty.

Issued on May 2015, Guidance Note 9 was removed because The AMA 4 Guides Table 27 (page 61) indicates that some resection arthroplasties are designated "isolated". There is no definition of the meaning of "isolated" in the context of Table 27 but the implication appears to be that the impairment rating for a resection arthroplasty is not applicable if the resection arthroplasty is part of a more complex procedure. Guidance notes are issued primarily to provide guidance as to the clinically recommended interpretation in an area where more than one interpretation of existing provisions in SIRA /MAS may be possible.

Since publication it has become apparent that more than one clinically recommended interpretation is available and currently in use in similar jurisdictions. Accordingly SIRA is not in a position to recommend a particular interpretation as to the issue outlined in Guidance Note 9.

The MAA's website contains information about all guidance notes available for use in the Assessment of Permanent Impairment in the NSW motor accidents scheme.