The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) posted an order announcing their adjustment to the Physician and Non-Physician section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS). The move was widely expected, as it allows the DWC to conform to the Medicare payment system, as required by Section 5307.1 of the California Labor Code.
2017 Physician and Non-Physician Fee Schedule
The 2017 Physician and Non-Physician Fee Schedule is effective for all dates of service from March 1, 2017 through December 15, 2017.
Explanation
The DWC order includes the following new values used to calculate reimbursements for procedure codes for services provided by Physicians and Non-Physicians on or after March 1, 2017:
- New Conversion Factors listed in CCR § 9789.19(d)
- Updated CMS Medicare National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value Units File (File Name: RVU17A).
Effective March 1st, 2017, through December 15, 2017, these two values combine to alter all reimbursement amounts.
New Conversion Factors
You’re likely familiar with the Conversion Factors (CFs) used to calculate reimbursements for different kinds of procedures. In the past, there have been four separate CFs to keep track of – one for anesthesia, one for surgery, one for radiology, and one for all other services.
Senate Bill 863 requires that this system is simplified in 2017. Effective March 1, the conversion factors for surgery and radiology will roll into the CF for all other services, leaving a total of just two conversion factors – one for anesthesia, and one for all other services. For more information, visit our blog.
Updated RVU File
To manually calculate payment amounts for the 2017 Physician and Non-Physician Fee Schedule, you must use one of two formulas:
2017 Non-Facility Pricing Amount =
[(Work RVU * Work GPCI) + (Non-Facility PE RVU * PE GPCI) + (MP RVU * MP GPCI)]
* Conversion Factor (CF)
2017 Facility Pricing Amount =
[(Work RVU * Work GPCI) + (Facility PE RVU * PE GPCI) + (MP RVU * MP GPCI)]
* Conversion Factor
Each formula requires three Relative Value Units. For dates of service on or after March 1, 2017, through December 15, 2017, the DWC uses Medicare’s new RVUs. You may download the 2017 Quarter 1 RVUs, or RVU17A, from the Medicare website by clicking this link.
Additional Information
DWC Official Medical Fee Schedule
California Labor Code Section 5307.1
DaisyBill Resources
Blog Post: DWC Adopts Changes to Physician Fee Schedule, Effective March 1
Webinar: 2017 Work Comp Changes
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