California Workers' Comp
Nov 29, 2018
CA OMFS Inpatient Hospital Fee Schedule Update
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) posted an adjustment to the Inpatient Hospital section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS), effective for dischar...
Nov 18, 2018
The 5 Point Checklist for CPT Codes 99358 and 99359
Changes have been made to the California OMFS since the publication of this article. Be sure to see the latest analyses here and here.2021 OMFS updates drastically cha...
Nov 8, 2018
CA Claims Admin Delays Payment, Skirts IBR Rules
When the Independent Bill Review (IBR) process overturns a claims administrator’s incorrect denial or adjustment, the claims administrator is legally bound to timely pay what...
Oct 12, 2018
CA: Employers 100% Responsible for UR Mistakes
In a much-anticipated ruling, California’s Supreme Court ruled that a secondary injury derived from an incorrect Utilization Review (UR) decision is compensable under workers...
Oct 10, 2018
Bill "Auditing" Services Try to Bamboozle Providers
Recently, MARS (Medical Audit and Review) made a very strange — and very dubious — offer to a California provider on behalf of the claims administrator, Farmers Insurance.
Oct 10, 2018
No Response to Second Review Request? A Lien Is the Only Option
A recent refusal by Travelers Insurance to respond to a provider’s second review appeal, and subsequent denial of the provider’s request for Independent Bill Review (IBR), pe...
Oct 5, 2018
It's Official: GPCI Reimbursement Adjustments Coming to CA Workers' Comp
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has pulled the trigger: Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI) will take effect on January 1, 2019. GPCI will divide the...
Oct 4, 2018
CA OMFS Update: Outpatient/ASC Changes Effective October 1
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) ordered updates to the Hospital Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) portion of the Official Medical Fee Sched...
Oct 3, 2018
CA DWC Proposes Pharma Fee Schedule Changes, Seeks Public Comment
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) proposed significant changes to the Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule. The proposals would bring pharmaceutical reimbursement c...
Sep 27, 2018
CA OMFS: New Billing Codes for Physician Fee Schedule
California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) ordered updates to the Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner portion of Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS), effectiv...
Sep 26, 2018
DWC Will Hold Meeting on Controversial Medical-Legal Rule Proposals
In May of this year, California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced proposed changes to the state Medical-Legal Fee Schedule (MLFS), and welcomed public comme...
Sep 25, 2018
IBR Accountability: Claims Admins Fail to Pay Providers
California regulations mandate that when Independent Bill Review (IBR) overturns a claims administrator’s incorrect bill denial or adjustment and finds in favor of the provid...