System Users Say Proposed QME Billing Changes Could Increase Costs

Rules that the California Division of Workers’ Compensation proposed earlier in May to clarify billing rules in the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule could ultimately lead to more disputes and higher frictional costs, doctors and attorneys say. Though the division said rules it posted to its online forum do not change the amount of fee schedule payments, observers say capping the time that qualified medical evaluators can bill for writing reports, and making it harder for doctors to bill for higher complexity evaluations, will reduce payments nonetheless. Lower payments could result in re...