VT Proposing 5 Percent Cut in Fees

The Vermont Department of Labor and Industries is proposing a 5 percent cut in fees for hospitals, dental work, unlisted medical procedure codes and durable medical equipment. If the rules are adopted, providers who are now allowed to charge 90 percent of their billed costs would be able to charge only 85 percent, said Trudy Smith, a vocational rehabilitation specialist for the department. Charges for listed procedure codes are governed by the state's fee schedule and would not be affected by the proposed rules. Smith said a law passed by the Vermont Legislature last year required her depa...