Proposed Reduction of Workers Comp Fees for the Medicine Codes
Workers Comp Fees == Proposed reduction to the Medicine Codes: The Workers Compensation Division is looking to reduce the fees relating to the medicine codes including “98940-98941-98942-98943” during their current rule making for 2010. In my conversation with Fred Bruyns at the WCD he tells me that these are just “minimal reductions” with increases in each of the other areas. In my mind—“any reduction is not acceptable or minimal”…….
The codes of particular interest to us in Chiropractic (conversion factors) are as follows:
Physical Medicine codes:
for 2009 were $65.79 going up to $68.00 (increase)
E/M codes:
for 2009 were $64.79 going up to $75.00 (increase)
Radiology codes:
for 2009 were $68.00 and would stay at $68.00 (remain the same)
Medicine Codes:
for 2009 were $75.04 going down to $70.00 (decrease)
After calculating the fees by multiplying with the proposed RVU’s here are the proposed 2010 fees:
98940 in 2009 = $51.03 2010 (proposed)= $48.30
98941 in 2009 = $70.54 2010 (proposed)= $67.20
98942 in 2009 = $92.30 2010 (proposed)= $87.50
98943 in 2009 = $48.03 2010 (proposed)= $39.20
During my phone call with Mr. Bruyns I questioned the rationale behind singling out our codes (Manip codes= 98940-41-42-43) for reductions and he could not specifically give me the reason for that. There is a public hearing scheduled for this “Rule Making” on April 21, 2010 at 1:30 pm in the L&I Building –Room 260 (Located at 350 Winter St NE Salem, OR 97301). This meeting is open for anyone to attend. However, I would like to gather letters from my members with regards to their response to this. You can find the actual proposed rule making document by going to www.cbs.state.or.us clicking (L column) “Laws and Rules” then “Proposed Rules” then “Rules 009.pdf” Proposed changes to Workers Compensation Rules. I would like to gather as many letters as possible from my membership with regards to this proposed change. Please take time to go to the WCD website – read/review the 54 page document (pg 48 shows conversion factors) and then write a letter against these proposed reductions of the “medicine conversion factors” from$75.04 to $70.00 which would decrease our fees (as shown above).
(PLEASE*****Mail a copy of your letter to the OCA office or Email us a copy at (chirooregon@hotmail.com or fred.h.bruyns@state.or.us) *****)- But Address them to: Workers Compensation Division Attn: Fred Bruyns PO Box 14480 Salem, OR 97309. Dr. Ferrante and I are planning to attend that meeting (as we have in past years) along with other representatives of the OCA and I would like to take all of those letters with me to have them presented there in person (rather than being separately mailed – where they could potentially be lost in the mail --if you know what I mean).
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