DECEMBER 5, 2000 - Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Director Kathleen Wilbur announced today that reimbursement fees for physicians treating work- related injuries will be going through some changes.

After 3 years of negotiations with businesses, physicians, and worker’s disability compensation insurance carriers, the Health Care Services Division of the Bureau of Workers’ Disability Compensation has successfully completed negotiations for new physician fees for medicine, surgery, and radiology services. The Bureau of Workers’ Disability Compensation is an agency within CIS.

The new fees were developed from nationally accepted standards utilizing the Resource Based Relative Value System (RBRVS) methodology for practitioner reimbursement. Cost of living increases were incorporated into the negotiated conversion factors.

"The new fees will be phased in through a three-step process through 2002," Wilbur said. "Fees for medicine and some surgical services will increase, while radiology and a majority of surgical fees will be reduced."

Implementation of phase one fees became effective on October 24, 2000 for services provided on and after this date. Fees for phase two will become effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2001 and phase three fees will become effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2002.

Click here for more information about the Health Care Services Rules and Fees Schedule.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.