It’s a new reality for workers’ comp, as stakeholders grapple with drastic changes brought on by COVID-19. DaisyBill is here to help providers navigate this changing landscape, with a series of blog posts, webinars, and other helpful updates aimed at providing the best workers’ comp billing and payment information for those who treat our ill and injured workers.

Starting today, we will email more frequent updates on the latest developments and their specific impact on workers’ comp. For those who don’t need to read these updates daily, we will continue to send regular “DaisyNews” digests of our blog posts, into which these various updates are compiled. In addition, each week on this blog, we’ll post answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding workers’ comp and COVID-19.

To begin, we’ll use this post to answer the most frequently asked questions submitted to us by our 5,000+ clients.

Where can we find guidance on COVID-19 and workers’ comp services?
Who can tell us what we should be doing when billing?
The claims administrator is telling me that I have to ______, can they do that?

Who Now Determines the Rules for Workers’ Comp?

As before COVID-19, each state’s applicable division of workers’ compensation holds the sole authority to determine the rules and regulations for compliant workers’ comp treatment, billing, and payment for that state.

It is critical for providers, employers, workers, insurers, and claims administrators to understand that the rules and regulations in place continue to apply, including existing guidelines for telehealth. As more providers transition to remote means of offering services, staying abreast of your state’s announced guideline changes is key to maintaining compliance.

These state divisions will doubtlessly promulgate new, more specific guidelines and regulations regarding workers’ comp treatment, billing, and payment in the context of the state’s COVID-19 response. Most recently, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) issued a Newsline encouraging providers to utilize telehealth-based solutions, where feasible:

After adherence to all public health guidance and orders, DWC encourages all parties to consider creative solutions appropriate to providing care to injured workers. The increased use of telehealth services for medical treatment may be appropriate.

Of note is the California DWC reminder that per the California Business and Professions Code Section 2290.5, providers must obtain documented written or verbal consent from patients confirming telehealth as an “acceptable method” of delivering services.

Otherwise, the Newsline focuses largely on the potential use of telemedicine for Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs), provided all parties to the dispute agree. The Newsline also establishes that QMEs forced to cancel appointments on short notice due to COVID-19 did so with good cause.

DaisyBill Is Here to Help

We invite any and all workers’ comp stakeholders to submit their questions regarding workers’ comp during the COVID-19 response. As the majority of our clients and readers are based in California, we expect these questions to be largely about the rules in that state.

That said, we serve clients in multiple states, particularly New York. We welcome questions from across the nation. Please email us at info@daisybill.com with your questions, or simply use the chat feature in the bottom right corner of any page of our website.

To learn about why E-billing is critical during COVID-19 and the details of how workers' comp E-billing is different from group health or Medicare, sign-up for our free upcoming webinar below.

Workers’ comp can work for providers. daisyBill software, data, and expertise makes billing easier, faster, and less costly. Request a free demonstration below.

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