Public comment sought on new Worker's Comp rules

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The Department of Workforce Services is seeking public comment on the proposed Workers’ Compensation program rules, specifically Chapter 9: Fee Schedules.

The Workers’ Compensation Division has analyzed Chapter 9 to identify areas in which the division can improve how medical bills are processed. Many proposed changes are based on provider feedback and help to streamline processes for providers.

The proposed changes will create efficiencies in the administration of medical claims, incorporate cost-saving measures and provide more equitable reimbursement rates to providers.

Proposed changes include the following:

• Adjusting the timeline in which reimbursements are made to reflect a specific quarter.

• Clarifying Division resources used to process claims, including shifting from the

OPTUM report to FAIR Health Data.

• Changing the way reimbursements are handled, such as incorporating a rural versus non-rural designation throughout, increasing reimbursement rates related to nursing and reimbursing according to the discharge year instead of the admission year.

The public comment window is open through Jan. 13, 2025, and comments may be submitted using the online form at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgITh28mQ4eVTpesPO9oLx6egof9cpG5vLkcV8KgHZ_wwpIw/viewform.

This story was published on December 7, 2024.