E/M Data: CPT 99214 Reimbursement 2022

E/M Data: CPT 99214 Reimbursement 2022

Far too often, California providers are not receiving Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) rates for Evaluation and Management (E/M) for injured workers — as evidenced by our data on CPT 99214, an extremely common E/M procedure code for established patients.

In 2022, CPT 99214 was the E/M procedure code most frequently reported by workers’ comp doctors using daisyBill. For 2022 dates of service, daisyBill clients sent 408,473 bills that included CPT 99214, making it a perfect code from which to extrapolate reimbursement and denial patterns by each claims administrator.

With the data below, we crunch the numbers and explore the implications for California workers’ comp.

CPT 99214: 2022 Data Summary

Below is a summary of the data collected from the 239 claims administrators to which daisyBill doctors submitted bills with E/M code CPT 99214. The data reveal that for dates of service in 2022, claims administrators collectively:

  • Denied payment for CPT 99214 10% of the time across all bills that included CPT 99214
  • Paid California doctors 83% of OMFS rates, which equals 111% of Medicare rates for the same services — despite OMFS rates set at 134% of Medicare rates in 2022
  • An Explanation of Review (EOR) is missing for 8% of e-bills featuring CPT 99214 (for these bills, either the claims administrator has not yet paid the bill or the claims administrator non-compliantly returned a paper EOR)

CPT Code 99214 (Moderate Level E/M)

2022 Dates of Service Data

Count of bills featuring CPT 99214

408,473

Count of bills: CPT 99214 Paid

336,314

Count of bills: CPT 99214 Denied

40,599

CPT 99214 Denal %

10%

% of OMFS Rate Paid for CPT 99214

83%

% of Medicare Rate Paid for CPT 99214

111%

Explanation of Review (EOR) Missing

31,560

% of Bills Missing EOR

8%

CPT 99214: Claims Administrators - High Denials AND Low Payments

For dates of service 2022, below are the 22 claims administrators with the highest payment denial rates and the lowest reimbursement rates. These claims administrators:

  • Received 100 or more bills with CPT 99214, and
  • Denied payment for CPT 99214 more than 10% of the time
  • Cumulatively reimbursed doctors less than 111% of the Medicare reimbursement rate (83% OMFS rate)

Doctors billing the claims administrators below are urged to scrutinize their EORs and submit Second Review appeals when payment for CPT 99214 is denied or reduced improperly.

Claims Administrator

Count: Bills With CPT 99214

Count: CPT 99214 Denied

CPT 99214 Denial %

% of OMFS Rate Paid

% of Medicare Rate Paid

Gallagher Bassett

25,701

4,300

17%

80%

107%

CorVel

15,272

1,739

11%

80%

107%

Liberty Mutual Insurance

12,767

1,493

12%

78%

105%

AmTrust North America

9,420

1,137

12%

69%

93%

Insurance Company of the West

6,961

1,300

19%

73%

99%

The Hartford

5,078

579

11%

72%

96%

Employers Compensation Insurance Company

4,130

1,488

36%

81%

109%

Helmsman Management Services

3,778

492

13%

76%

102%

Pacific Compensation Insurance Company

2,902

443

15%

70%

94%

CompWest Insurance Company

2,427

429

18%

82%

110%

Farmers Insurance

1,980

296

15%

70%

93%

Guard Insurance Group

1,490

295

20%

74%

99%

Omaha National Group

1,094

278

25%

82%

110%

Enstar Group

681

223

33%

72%

97%

Hanover Insurance Company

437

109

25%

75%

101%

Applied Underwriters

431

64

15%

80%

107%

Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC

424

111

26%

74%

100%

United Heartland

276

36

13%

78%

105%

Nordstrom Workers' Compensation

259

59

23%

81%

109%

National Liability and Fire Insurance Company

228

38

17%

76%

102%

Tokio Marine Management

138

61

44%

70%

93%

ARGO - Argonaut Insurance Company

115

14

12%

77%

104%

CPT 99214: Claims Administrators - Highest Denial Rates

California law monetarily incentivizes claims administrators to falsely deny bills. When a doctor fails to submit a Second Review appeal to dispute a false payment denial within 90 days, the claims administrator keeps the doctor’s revenue.

When denial rates by individual claims administrators for CPT 99214 appear excessive, it is possible that these claims administrators frequently deny payment improperly.

Below we list the 24 claims administrators that:

  • Received 100 or more bills with CPT 99214, and
  • Denied CPT 99214 15% or more of the time

Providers must pay close attention to payment denials received from this list of 24 claims administrators.

Claims Administrator

Count: Bills With CPT 99214

Count: CPT 99214 Denied

CPT 99214 Denial %

% of OMFS Rate Paid

% of Medicare Rate Paid

Gallagher Bassett

25,701

4,300

17%

80%

107%

Insurance Company of the West

6,961

1,300

19%

73%

99%

Employers Compensation Insurance Company

4,130

1,488

36%

81%

109%

Pacific Compensation Insurance Company

2,902

443

15%

70%

94%

Republic Indemnity

2,691

429

16%

97%

130%

Next Level Administrators

2,456

675

28%

82%

111%

CompWest Insurance Company

2,427

429

18%

82%

110%

Benchmark Insurance Company

2,156

329

15%

101%

135%

CNA Insurance

1,665

255

15%

90%

120%

Guard Insurance Group

1,490

295

20%

74%

99%

Omaha National Group

1,094

278

25%

82%

110%

Midwest Insurance

1,072

173

16%

87%

117%

Enstar Group

681

223

33%

72%

97%

Protective Insurance

673

117

17%

85%

114%

Church Mutual Insurance Company

506

91

18%

85%

114%

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance

497

119

24%

95%

128%

Hanover Insurance Company

437

109

25%

75%

101%

Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC

424

111

26%

74%

100%

Packard Claims Administration

313

73

23%

87%

116%

Nordstrom Workers' Compensation

259

59

23%

81%

109%

National Liability and Fire Insurance Company

228

38

17%

76%

102%

Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers

184

50

27%

87%

117%

Tokio Marine Management

138

61

44%

70%

93%

Constitution State Services

128

21

16%

95%

127%

CPT 99214: Claims Administrators - Lowest Reimbursements Rates

Below we list the 21 claims administrators that reimbursed providers the lowest amounts for CPT 99214. All of these claims administrators:

  • Received 100 or more bills with CPT 99214, and
  • Cumulatively paid less than the Medicare reimbursement rate for CPT 99214

Claims Administrator

Count: Bills With CPT 99214

Count: CPT 99214 Denied

CPT 99214 Denial %

% of OMFS Rate Paid

% of Medicare Rate Paid

AmTrust North America

9,420

1,137

12%

69%

93%

Insurance Company of the West

6,961

1,300

19%

73%

99%

The Zenith

5,478

498

9%

71%

96%

The Hartford

5,078

579

11%

72%

96%

Pacific Compensation Insurance Company

2,902

443

15%

70%

94%

Farmers Insurance

1,980

296

15%

70%

93%

Guard Insurance Group

1,490

295

20%

74%

99%

Marriott Claims Service Corp

1,276

33

3%

70%

94%

City of San Diego (CA)

1,184

26

2%

59%

79%

Risico Claims Management, Inc.

1,062

12

1%

68%

92%

County of Riverside (CA)

700

29

4%

72%

97%

Enstar Group

681

223

33%

72%

97%

Sempra Energy Employee Care Services

680

32

5%

71%

95%

Fresno Unified School District (CA)

386

0

0%

52%

69%

Contra Costa County Risk Management (CA)

272

12

4%

70%

94%

Nationwide Insurance Companies

228

18

8%

65%

88%

CopperPoint Mutual

193

12

6%

61%

82%

Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group (CA)

171

2

1%

62%

84%

Tokio Marine Management

138

61

44%

70%

93%

Nationwide Agribusiness Companies

135

6

4%

64%

86%

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance

130

8

6%

72%

97%

CPT 99214 Data: All Claims Administrators 2022

Below we list all 131 claims administrators to which daisyBill doctors reported CPT 99214 one hundred or more times in 2022.

For example, Employers Insurance denied payment for CPT 99214 36% of the time in 2022. We find it difficult to imagine that doctors billed CPT 99214 erroneously 36% of the time. We find it just as difficult to imagine that Employers’ overall reimbursement rates (just 109% of Medicare rates) represent reasonable compensation for the levels of E/M service delivered.

Remember: always submit Second Review appeals for improper denials or adjustments — it can save your practice literally millions.  

Note: daisyBill analytics updates these totals daily, based on bill entry date of service and receipt of electronic EORs. Accordingly, data may have changed slightly compared to our recent breakdowns of E/M reimbursement rates by the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) and The Zenith.

Claims Administrator

Count: Bills With CPT 99214

Count: CPT 99214 Denied

CPT 99214 Denial %

% of OMFS Rate Paid

% of Medicare Rate Paid

Sedgwick Claims Management Services

78,691

7,582

10%

87%

116%

State Compensation Insurance Fund (CA)

32,487

2,595

8%

75%

101%

Gallagher Bassett

25,701

4,300

17%

80%

107%

Intercare Holdings Insurance, Inc.

22,345

1,228

6%

87%

116%

Zurich Insurance North America

15,586

1,581

10%

79%

107%

CorVel

15,272

1,739

11%

80%

107%

ESIS, Inc.

14,260

1,354

10%

81%

108%

Liberty Mutual Insurance

12,767

1,493

12%

78%

105%

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies

11,574

1,109

10%

84%

113%

Travelers

11,257

1,555

14%

102%

137%

Broadspire

9,792

437

5%

82%

110%

AmTrust North America

9,420

1,137

12%

69%

93%

Cannon Cochran Management Services Inc.

8,800

805

9%

93%

125%

Athens Administrators

8,276

297

4%

85%

114%

Insurance Company of the West

6,961

1,300

19%

73%

99%

Tristar Risk Management

6,104

195

3%

79%

106%

Keenan & Associates

6,015

253

4%

79%

106%

The Zenith

5,478

498

9%

71%

96%

The Hartford

5,078

579

11%

72%

96%

Employers Compensation Insurance Company

4,130

1,488

36%

81%

109%

Adminsure, Inc.

3,842

158

4%

90%

120%

Helmsman Management Services

3,778

492

13%

76%

102%

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (CA)

3,581

31

1%

84%

112%

Sentry Insurance

3,493

287

8%

88%

118%

LWP Claims Solutions

2,947

71

2%

90%

121%

Pacific Compensation Insurance Company

2,902

443

15%

70%

94%

City of Los Angeles (CA)

2,857

260

9%

78%

105%

Republic Indemnity

2,691

429

16%

97%

130%

Acclamation Insurance Management Services

2,635

88

3%

81%

109%

Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

2,487

259

10%

86%

115%

Next Level Administrators

2,456

675

28%

82%

111%

CompWest Insurance Company

2,427

429

18%

82%

110%

Benchmark Insurance Company

2,156

329

15%

101%

135%

Pacific Claims Management

2,139

47

2%

89%

119%

Preferred Employers Insurance Company

2,129

258

12%

87%

117%

Farmers Insurance

1,980

296

15%

70%

93%

American Claims Management, Inc

1,750

189

11%

101%

136%

CNA Insurance

1,665

255

15%

90%

120%

Nassco / General Dynamics

1,564

79

5%

87%

117%

Guard Insurance Group

1,490

295

20%

74%

99%

County of Santa Clara (CA)

1,458

37

3%

99%

132%

Elite Claims Management

1,334

126

9%

78%

104%

Affirmative

1,312

10

1%

102%

138%

Albertsons / Safeway / Vons

1,289

152

12%

104%

140%

Alaska National Insurance

1,282

184

14%

87%

116%

Marriott Claims Service Corp

1,276

33

3%

70%

94%

Beta Healthcare Group Risk Management Authority

1,240

113

9%

86%

116%

City of San Diego (CA)

1,184

26

2%

59%

79%

City and County of San Francisco (CA)

1,119

24

2%

101%

136%

Omaha National Group

1,094

278

25%

82%

110%

California Insurance Guarantee Association

1,089

21

2%

77%

103%

AmeriTrust Group, Inc.

1,074

22

2%

105%

141%

Midwest Insurance

1,072

173

16%

87%

117%

Risico Claims Management, Inc.

1,062

12

1%

68%

92%

County of San Diego (CA)

947

17

2%

94%

126%

Strategic Comp

821

88

11%

98%

131%

Cottingham & Butler Claim Services, Inc.

784

46

6%

90%

120%

Crum & Forster

769

77

10%

78%

105%

Self-Insured Schools of California (CA)

750

28

4%

96%

129%

Markel First Comp Insurance

721

106

15%

83%

111%

AIG Claims, Inc.

714

92

13%

85%

114%

PMA Companies

709

15

2%

80%

107%

County of Riverside (CA)

700

29

4%

72%

97%

City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (CA)

683

63

9%

75%

100%

Enstar Group

681

223

33%

72%

97%

Sempra Energy Employee Care Services

680

32

5%

71%

95%

Protective Insurance

673

117

17%

85%

114%

County of San Bernardino (CA)

671

17

3%

79%

106%

Matrix Absence Management

602

10

2%

81%

109%

American Equity Underwriters

598

41

7%

88%

118%

Allianz

593

61

10%

85%

114%

WCF Insurance

591

53

9%

95%

127%

Sutter Health

549

39

7%

89%

120%

Pegasus Risk Management Services

544

1

0%

95%

127%

Church Mutual Insurance Company

506

91

18%

85%

114%

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance

497

119

24%

95%

128%

GuideOne Insurance

482

50

10%

89%

120%

Innovative Claim Solutions, Inc.

482

4

1%

97%

130%

National Interstate Insurance

454

20

4%

101%

135%

Hanover Insurance Company

437

109

25%

75%

101%

Applied Underwriters

431

64

15%

80%

107%

Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC

424

111

26%

74%

100%

Pacific Gas & Electric

408

31

8%

83%

112%

County of Sacramento (CA)

397

4

1%

100%

135%

Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund N. CA

391

0

0%

96%

128%

Fresno Unified School District (CA)

386

0

0%

52%

69%

Tribal First

383

2

1%

90%

121%

Charles Taylor TPA

380

13

3%

102%

136%

Disneyland Resorts California

348

5

1%

101%

135%

JT2 Integrated Resources

336

0

0%

87%

117%

Packard Claims Administration

313

73

23%

87%

116%

Schools Insurance Authority (CA)

303

38

13%

88%

119%

None

293

10

3%

86%

115%

United Heartland

276

36

13%

78%

105%

Contra Costa County Risk Management (CA)

272

12

4%

70%

94%

Garden Grove Unified School District (CA)

261

0

0%

95%

127%

Nordstrom Workers' Compensation

259

59

23%

81%

109%

Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions

233

21

9%

78%

105%

Creative Risk Solutions

233

0

0%

98%

132%

Nationwide Insurance Companies

228

18

8%

65%

88%

National Liability and Fire Insurance Company

228

38

17%

76%

102%

Workers' Compensation Administrators, LLC

222

1

1%

95%

127%

ClaimQuest, Inc.

218

8

4%

90%

121%

Contract Claims Services Inc.

214

4

2%

85%

114%

Southern California Edison

210

19

9%

92%

124%

CopperPoint Mutual

193

12

6%

61%

82%

QBE North American

190

17

9%

92%

123%

City of Santa Monica (CA)

188

1

1%

88%

118%

Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers

184

50

27%

87%

117%

City of Torrance (CA)

176

10

6%

78%

105%

Trindel Insurance Fund

175

2

1%

87%

117%

Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group (CA)

171

2

1%

62%

84%

Gallo Wine Claims

167

1

1%

94%

127%

Hazelrigg Claims Management Services

164

2

1%

84%

113%

Association of California Water Agencies JPIA

149

0

0%

77%

103%

Salus

146

1

1%

104%

139%

Department of Labor

141

18

13%

109%

146%

Midwestern Insurance Alliance

139

7

5%

98%

132%

Tokio Marine Management

138

61

44%

70%

93%

Nationwide Agribusiness Companies

135

6

4%

64%

86%

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance

130

8

6%

72%

97%

City of San Jose (CA)

130

1

1%

76%

102%

Municipal Pooling Authority (CA)

129

3

2%

80%

108%

Constitution State Services

128

21

16%

95%

127%

Workers Compensation Fund (Utah)

123

9

7%

88%

119%

City of Riverside (CA)

118

0

0%

90%

121%

ARGO - Argonaut Insurance Company

115

14

12%

77%

104%

City of Sacramento (CA)

106

1

1%

78%

105%

City of Burbank (CA)

106

1

1%

85%

114%

Finish Line Self Insurance Group

103

6

6%

74%

100%

Murphy and Beane

103

7

7%

88%

119%


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