Judge Rules DWC Can Cap Air Ambulance Rates at 125% of Medicare

A Texas trial court judge has ruled that federal law does not prohibit the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation from setting maximum rates for air ambulance services. Judge Stephen Yelenosky, with the Texas 345th District Court in Travis County, late Thursday granted summary judgment in favor of a group of carriers led by Texas Mutual in a dispute with PHI Air Medical over what the insurers called exorbitant fees. He ruled that a Division of Workers' Compensation rule that limits air ambulance fees to 125% of Medicare charges is binding, and reversed a State Office of Administrativ...