NCCI: Changes to Medicare Rates Could Increase Comp Costs

States that use fee schedules that are partially based on Medicare’s payment rules could see an increase in total medical costs of up to 2%, under changes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adopted for 2021, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. NCCI said Medicare’s changes will significantly increase payment rates for evaluation and management services, which account for about a quarter of workers’ compensation physician costs countrywide. CMS partially offset the increased rates for evaluation and management services by reducing the 2021 ...