CA Physician Fee Schedule - 2023 Changes

CA Physician Fee Schedule - 2023 Changes

Yesterday, California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced reimbursement updates to the Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Services section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS), effective for services rendered on or after February 15, 2023. 

Despite the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cutting the Conversion Factor by which Medicare reimbursements are calculated, California increased the Conversion Factor that applies to its physician fee schedule services. California also increased the flat-rate reimbursements for California-specific ‘WC’ billing codes.

(Unfortunately, this OMFS “raise” will not increase reimbursements for the many providers ensnared in Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and other discount reimbursement contracts.)

Below are details regarding both the increased OMFS Conversion Factor and the increased California-specific billing code reimbursements.

Higher OMFS Conversion Factor

The OMFS update announcement is found in this recent DWC Newsline, with the update order and related documents available on the DWC’s OMFS web page.

The Conversion Factor used to calculate OMFS reimbursements for physician services is increasing from $46.45 to $47.21 (even as Medicare rates decrease); the OMFS will pay 139.32% of Medicare rates for the same services.

With this Conversion Factor increase, the DWC is acknowledging that treating injured workers requires about 40% more work than treating a Medicare patient — though California still allows PPOs to drastically reduce reimbursement rates to well below OMFS (and sometimes even below Medicare) rates.

The table below displays the historical Medicare Conversion Factors, as compared to historical OMFS Conversion Factors. The ‘OMFS % of Medicare’ column shows the precise difference between the two Conversion Factors — which reflects the substantial difference in administrative expenses required when treating an injured worker as opposed to a Medicare patient.

Dates of Service

Medicare Conversion Factor

California OMFS Conversion Factor

OMFS % of Medicare

GPCI

2017

35.8887

44.6572

124.43%

Statewide GAFs

2018

35.9996

45.2371

125.66%

Statewide GAFs

2019

36.0391

45.8513

127.23%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

2020

36.0896

46.7900

129.65%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

2021

34.8931

45.8700

131.46%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

2022

34.6062

46.4500

134.22%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

1/1/2023 - 2/14/2023

33.8872

46.4500

137.07%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

2/15/2023

33.8872

47.2100

139.32%

Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) by locality

daisyWizard Fee Schedule Calculator

The daisyWizard Fee Schedule Calculator is already updated to reflect the fee schedule changes described above (feel free to try the OMFS Calculator free to instantly know the new reimbursements).

Below, daisyWizard shows the new reimbursement rate (effective February 15th) for Los Angeles for CPT code 99214, a common Evaluation and Management (E/M) code — increasing to $196.29 from the current rate of $191.01.

As a reminder, California also adopted the new Medicare RVU and GPCI values, both of which also impact the calculation of the reimbursement for each procedure code.

California-Specific ‘WC’ Codes: Reimbursement Increase

California Code of Regulations Section 9789.12.14 establishes “California Specific Codes,” which begin with the prefix “WC.” Physicians report these codes when submitting reports or furnishing copies of chart notes, x-rays, or scans.

For example, a Primary Treating Physician (PTP) reports code WC002 when submitting the required PR-2 progress report for an injured worker. As of February 15th, the reimbursement for WC002 will increase to $14.52, up from the previous rate of $13.99.

Annually, the DWC establishes new statewide reimbursement rates for these ‘WC’ codes. The table below outlines the reimbursement rates due for all dates of service on or after February 15, 2023.

California - Specific Code

Description

Reimbursement Effective 1/1/2022

Additional Page Reimbursement Effective 1/1/2022

Reimbursement Effective 2/15/2023

Additional Page Reimbursement Effective 2/15/2023

Percent Change

WC001

Doctor’s First Report of Occupational Illness or Injury (Form 5021)

Not reimbursable

n/a (not applicable)

Not reimbursable

n/a (not applicable)

n/a

WC002

Primary Treating Physician’s Progress Report (Form PR-2)

$13.99

n/a

$14.52

n/a

3.79%

WC003

Primary Treating Physician’s Permanent & Stationary Report (Form PR-3): First page

$43.32 for first page

$26.64 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($176.52)

$44.97 for first page

$27.65 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($183.23)

3.80%

WC004

Primary Treating Physician’s Permanent & Stationary Report (Form PR-4): First page

$43.32 for first page

$26.64 each additional page. Maximum of seven pages absent mutual agreement ($203.16)

$44.97 for first page

$27.65 each additional page. Maximum of seven pages absent mutual agreement ($210.87)

3.80%

WC005

Psychiatric Report requested by the WCAB or the Administrative Director, other than medical-legal report: First page

$43.32 for first page

$26.64 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($176.52)

$44.97 for first page

$27.65 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($183.22)

3.80%

WC007

Consultation Reports requested by the WCAB or the Administrative Director: First page

$43.32 for first page

$26.64 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($176.52)

$44.97 for first page

$27.65 each additional page. Maximum of six pages absent mutual agreement ($183.22)

3.80%

WC008

Chart Notes: Up to the first 15 pages.

$12.51 for up to the first 15 pages

$0.26 for each additional page after the first 15 pages

$12.99 for up to the first 15 pages

$0.27 for each additional page after the first 15 pages.

3.84%

WC009

Duplicate Reports: Up to the first 15 pages.

$12.51 for up to the first 15 pages

$0.26 for each additional page after the first 15 pages

$12.99 for up to the first 15 pages

$0.27 for each additional page after the first 15 pages.

3.84%

WC010

Duplication of X-Ray

$5.74 per x-ray

n/a

$5.96 per x-ray

n/a

3.83%

WC011

Duplication of Scan

$12.51 per scan

n/a

$12.99 per scan

n/a

3.84%

WC012

Missed Appointments. This code is designated for communication only. It does not imply that compensation is owed. Non-reimbursable absent agreement.

No Fee Prescribed/Non Reimbursable absent agreement

n/a

No Fee Prescribed/Non Reimbursable absent agreement

n/a

n/a

OMFS vs PPOs

The increase in reimbursement rates as a result of this update should be good news for California physicians — but it will mean nothing for those physicians bullied into PPO discount contracts, usually under threat of exclusion from Medical Provider Networks (MPNs).

Sadly, California continues to allow providers who treat injured workers to be reimbursed at or below Medicare rates, through the machinations of PPOs and other discount contracting entities.

We will explore the issue of OMFS rates versus the actual reimbursement received under various kinds of discount contracts in future posts. Stay tuned to this space.


Know (and receive) exactly what you’re owed for treating injured workers. Get instant, accurate fee schedule calculations with daisyWizard’s OMFS Calculator.

TRY daisyWizard’s Fee Schedule CALCULATOR

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