Florida physicians treating injured workers, it’s time to rejoice.

The state significantly increased its Maximum Reimbursement Allowances (MRAs) for workers’ comp treatment effective January 1, 2025. The hourly rate for expert medical witness testimony in workers’ comp claim depositions is also increased.

According to the Florida Orthopaedic Society, the reimbursement increases are “unprecedented” for Florida physicians, who “endured the lowest reimbursement for physicians treating Workers' Compensation in the country for over 25 years.”

The Florida legislature has (finally) recognized a nationwide crisis where providers are (rightfully) concluding that treating injured workers isn’t worth the administrative hassle and expense.

Florida Provider Reimbursements Way Up

Florida Statue Section 440.13 (12)(d)(2) previously set MRAs for physician services at 110% of the Medicare rates. Florida Senate Bill 362, approved by the Governor in 2024, increases the MRA for physicians to 175% of Medicare rates.

Additionally, SB 362 increases reimbursements for surgical procedures from 140% of Medicare rates to 210% of Medicare rates.

SB 362 raises the “witness fee” from $200 to $300 per hour for healthcare providers who give expert testimony in a deposition. The fee is capped at $300 per day (increased from $200 per day) for providers who:

• Have never provided direct professional services to a party but have reviewed medical records and offered an expert opinion or
• Have provided only professional services unrelated to the workers’ comp case

These substantial MRA increases should increase the number of providers willing to treat injured workers in the Sunshine State.

With the passage of SB 362, Florida legislators have acknowledged that treating injured workers is vastly more administratively complex and burdensome than treating Medicare or private insurance patients—to be precise, 75% more complicated than Medicare patients for non-surgical services and 110% more complex and onerous than Medicare for surgeries.

This is a significant win for employers and their injured workers, who face increasingly fewer options for care.

Coupled with advancements in Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) technology, which makes workers’ comp billing drastically easier, there is hope that Florida’s injured workers will get the care they need in a way that is efficient and financially sustainable for practices.

How does treating injured workers impact your practice financially? How do you know? Get a free live lesson on powerful payment analytics your practice can use to help ensure that workers’ comp is a financial win.

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