InBrief

The MAA Permanent Impairment Guidelines Interpretation Group (PI-GIG) was formed in November 2008 to provide expert and considered advice on any anomalies in the MAA Impairment Guidelines and AMA4 Guides, or areas which are open to interpretation or have the potential for inconsistent assessments.

One of the roles of the PI-GIG is to develop guidance notes to clarify or outline the clinically preferred interpretation of existing guideline provisions.

Guidance Notes developed by the PI-GIG will in no way contradict the existing provisions of the AMA 4 Guides or MAA Guidelines, but may provide a clinically preferred method of interpretation in circumstances where:

• Existing provisions are ambiguous
• Existing provisions do not cover a particular condition
• Existing provisions are contradictory
• Existing provisions require definition or clarification

The following NEW Guidance Note will be available for use by Medical Assessors from 1st September 2014:

1. Guidance Note 19_ Determination of a recognised psychiatric diagnosis

The Guidance Notes are to be used by Medical Assessors when assessing the degree of permanent impairment under the NSW CTP scheme.

The Guidance Notes can be found on the Motor Accidents Authority website: News and Events or MAAS > Medical Assessment Service

Should you wish to provide comment or have any queries on any of the Guidance Notes please click on the following link: wpienquiry@maa.nsw.gov.au

Responses will be collated for a period of six months following the date of launch of the Guidance Note and presented to the MAA Permanent Impairment Guidelines Interpretation Group for further consideration.