Federal Social Insurance Office Halts Collaboration with PMEDA SA for Disability Assessments: Report Reveals Discrepancy in Work Capacity Certification

Last October, the Federal Social Insurance Office (OFAS) informed that the disability insurance (AI) would no longer collaborate in the future with PMEDA SA which carried out medical assessments for the AI. The authority thus followed a recommendation from the Federal Commission for Quality Assurance in the Field of Medical Expertise (CFQAM). This week it published the related examination report, consulted by the “SonntagsZeitung”.

The report shows in particular that in 2022/2023 PMEDA certified full capacity to work in a suitable activity in 56.7% of the cases submitted to it. This, while all the other polydisciplinary centers of expertise only attested to full work capacity in an adapted activity for 26.4% of cases for this same period.

“An evaluation of PMEDA’s work was carried out without the prior publication, provided for by law, of the CFQAM’s own quality criteria,” deplores Henning Mats, the company’s head doctor. In addition, according to him, the report was “deficient in form and substance”. This is particularly because it does not contain comparative quality control of the expertise of other centers of expertise. The neurologist announces that he will decide “quickly” on legal action against the people and institutions involved.