Medical Payment Disputes Surging in State That Still Lacks Fee Schedule

Medical payment disputes appear to have increased sharply in New Jersey’s workers’ comp system, rekindling a debate over whether the state needs a medical fee schedule. Medical claim petitions now make up 20% of all formal claim petitions filed with the New Jersey Division of Workers’ Compensation, according to workers’ comp defense attorney John Geaney with Capehart Scatchard. About six years ago, the medical claim petitions accounted for only 1% or 2% of claims filed with DWC. This year, more than 6,300 MCPs had been filed with DWC through the end of November, Geane...