California Orthopaedic Association

“Keeping You Active”
Text Box: Orthopaedic On-Call Emergency Room Survey COA White Paper to help members determine their actual costs of serving on-call. Click here to obtain a copy of the Paper. Text Box: Worker’s Compensation News COA Develops Tools to Assist Members in Utilization Review Appeals. Click here for UR assistance. DWC begins work to develop post-surgical rehabilitation treatment guidelines in anticipation of COA-sponsored legislation being signed into law. (AB1073 –Nava). The Lewin Group is awarded a contract to transition the Official Medical Fee Schedule—physician services to an RBRVS system. It is too early to tell what this means for reimbursement. COA is opposed to any reductions and seeks an increase in reimbursement to compensate physicians for the additional work involved in treating injured workers. DWC begins discussions on revising the Ground Rules. COA participates in the work group meetings. A copy of the first Lewin report can be obtained on the DWC website: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/RBRVSReport/RBRVS_May2008.pdf DWC releases Medical Access Study Results COA releases results of its Workers’ Compensation Access Study - Orthopaedic surgeons limiting the number of injured workers they treat. Click on the following links for the Report and supporting tables Table II and Table III.

ACOEM Practice Guidelines

 

· Revised Ankle Chapter is adopted by DWC.

 

· Revisions to Low Back Guidelines are released.

The Most Recent WC Fee Schedule Information

· 10 Evaluation and Management Codes Increased as of February 15, 2007.  See the COA Report, Spring, 2007 for details.

· Changes to the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule—effective July 1, 2006, medical-legal evaluations, supplemental reports, or depositions done on or after July 1, 2006 have been increased 25% across-the-board.  In addition, there were changes to the ML103 complexity factors and two new ML codes were created—.  ML105—Medical-Legal Testimony and ML106—Supplemental Reports.  Click here for a copy of  the revised Medical-Legal Fee Schedule.

 

· OMFS Ground Rules Updated and posted at:                                                      http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/dwcpropregsOMFSGenInfo_Instructions_Final.pdf

· Reimbursement for Repackaged Pharmaceuticals Reduced as of March 1, 2007 – Click here to calculate reimbursement

Home

What’s New …..

AMA Releases 6th Edition

of the AMA Guides to Disability Evaluations.

California would have to pass legislation to adopt 6th Edition.  No indication that will happen any time soon.

Legislative News  - AB 1444 (Emmerson)

Physical Therapy Direct Access Bill Dies in Committee.