NCCI Report Shows Medical Costs Dropping Since Fee Schedules Adopted

Legislation passed in 2013 that switched North Carolina to a Medicare-based reimbursement plan continues to have its intended effect: The state’s medical costs for 2016 and 2017 were below regional and national averages in most categories, a new report shows. But medical providers are feeling the pinch, and one group says stingy fees could ultimately result in fewer options for injured workers. “It’s becoming a question of access to care,” said Peter Lohrengel, executive director of the North Carolina Ambulatory Surgical Center Association. “How long before some...