The Department of Labor and Employment is proposing amendments to Rule 16 and Rule 18 of the Workers' Compensation Rules of Procedure. The Division will hold a second hearing for public comment on the proposed amendments on September 14, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. There are many proposed changes, most of which are highly technical. Below is a list of what we consider to be some of the most significant changes:

• Increasing the Relative Value Units, effectively increasing the maximum rates that medical providers can charge;

• Including the QSART test (used to diagnose CRPS) and Intra-Operative Monitoring under the fee schedule;  

• Requiring prior authorization for prescribing medications that need compounding;  

• Limiting medications a medical provider's office can dispense to a 14-day supply and prohibiting a medical provider's office from dispensing narcotics; and  

• Changing the reimbursement schedule for outpatient surgery centers and hospitals. 

If these rules are adopted, they would become effective January 1, 2012. If you have any additional questions, please contact Jessica Moran at jmoran@tpm-law.com.