Act changes medical dispute definition and technical references
A key element of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2025 is an amendment to section 7.17 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, revising the definition of “medical dispute” to confirm that it extends to disputes determined through merit review processes. For CTP insurers, dispute resolution providers, and legal representatives, the clarification addresses ambiguity over whether matters decided by way of merit review fall within the same statutory category as other medical disputes. The change is likely to affect how disputes are framed, which pathways are selected, and how decisions are described in claims management and litigation. The Act also updates wording in legacy motor accident legislation. Section 62(1)(b) of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 is amended to replace a reference to the “President” with a reference to the “Commission,” aligning the provision with the current institutional structure for dispute resolution and scheme oversight.