MS: MWCC Summarizes 2010 Changes to Medical Fee Schedule

JACKSON, MS - The Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission has summarized the 2010 changes to the medical fee schedule, including, among other things:

• redefining the phrase "medical necessity"
• adding a rule that medical impairment ratings may only be rendered by a medical doctor
• clarifying mileage reimbursement due a patient receiving treatment under the workers' compensation law
• tightening the time limits and procedures for dispute resolution requests
• tightening the procedures for utilization review
• limiting reimbursement for services by a physical or occupational therapist assistant
• adding new rules regarding payment of physician-dispensed, repackaged or compounded medications
• adding a provision that overtime hours are not billable or reimbursed in Home Health
• increasing unit price for anesthesia services
• tightening rules for use of pain management
• adding requirements for use and approval of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring
• adding rules to limit reimbursement of EMG/NCS testing
• adding guidelines for approval, use and reimbursement of an Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program
• adding a rule that VAX-D therapy is not reimbursable
• adding rules the implement the Ambulatory Payment Classification system as developed by CMS for reimbursement of all outpatient services; implants will be continued to be reimbursed separately
• providing that all profesional fees are based on existing RBRVS values and conversion factors as of August 1, 2007, with some exceptions

Read the executive summary

Read the 2010 fee schedule final draft

Source: Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission