Transcript Comp Present and Future 2014 Changes Including the 2013 Reform

STATE OF TENNESSEE
DIVISION OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
220 FRENCH LANDING DRIVE
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-1002
(615) 741-2395
1-800-332-2667
Workers’ Compensation
Present and Future
2014
Changes including the 2013 Reform
Act
Changes Go Into Effect
1 July, 2014
Causation
Administrative Judges
Permanent Impairment Ratings
Aggravation of Pre-existing Condition
MMI and Pain Management
Panel Rules
1 January, 2016
Treatment Guidelines
Changes Not Retroactive
practitioners, other providers, companies,
attorneys, injured workers, adjusters, case
managers, therapists, etc.
we will all have to live in two worlds, just like the
transition from the 5th edition to the 6th edition
Meaning
The meaning and interpretation of these statutes
and rules will be determined by the Judges,
ultimately a legal and judicial decision.
This presentation is the guidance from the Medical
Director’s Office as of this time.
“Liberal” Construction
Now: in favor of the employee
“it happened at work, now I need treatment,
therefore my employer should pay.”
Implications
designed as “no fault”
temporary disability payments
off work
light duty
job protection
New Construction
“fair and impartial”
removed from county courts
Judges appointed by the Administrator
of the Division
8 regional courts, when fully
implemented
administrative procedures
Causation(1)
Now: “in the course and scope of employment”
Except cumulative trauma disorders:
rules for these changed in 2011
“primarily within the course and scope”
New: “primarily out of…and in the course and
scope of employment…”
Causation(2)
Now: “…was it possibly caused by…?”
New: the employee must show…that the
subsequent…need for treatment is “more likely
than not” (greater than 50%), due to this injury,
“considering all causes, as opposed to
speculation or possibility.”
Causation Opinion
Use of the physician’s opinion:
1. First visit-ER, Occupational Medicine.
2. First Referral:
do not assume that the carrier has
accepted the claim, even though they
made the appointment.
3. Subsequent request for an opinion.
Panels
New: The opinion of the treating physician
selected from the employer’s panel is
presumed to be correct (causation).
The employer may present the employee
with a panel of three physicians…
The employer has three days to object
to a referral from one of the panel
physicians and present the employee
a different panel.
No particular requirements for
subspecialty panels.
Injury
“An ‘injury’…means an injury by ‘accident’
that…arises primarily out of and in the course
and scope of employment that causes death,
disablement, or the need for treatment, provided
that it is…caused by an incident, or series of
incidents...identifiable by time and place of
occurrence…”
Aggravation
“…and shall not include the aggravation of a
pre-existing disease, condition or ailment, unless
it can be shown to a reasonable degree of
medical certainty that the aggravation arose
primarily out of and in the course and scope of
employment.”
Definitions
Aggravation: a permanent worsening (a condition
made permanently worse) with documentable
anatomic change.
Exacerbation: temporary with no anatomic change.
Opinion
Treating physician’s opinion is “…presumed to be
correct…” if it is based upon a reasonable
degree of medical certainty that the “injury”
contributed “…more than 50%in causing...the
need for medical treatment…more likely than
not, considering all causes, as opposed to
speculation or possibility.”
Aggravation
New:
“Just because your knee hurt after your
‘injury’ does not necessarily make it
covered
under Workers’ Compensation.”
Significant implications concerning:
disability payments
restricted duty
off work time
ability to “fire”
Exacerbation
No permanent anatomic change.
Temporary decrease in function:
limitations (cannot), restrictions (should not).
Implications:
limitations
restrictions
pain
temporary disability
Judgment on Causation
Ultimately, the compensability of a claim lies
with the Administrative Court.
Physicians’ opinions.
Timing of causation appeal.
Risk to the provider: treatment payment.
Risk to the employee: job.
Treating Physician(1)
Still must be the advocate for the patient.
More requirements for initial evaluation
concerning likelihood of causation and
relationship to work.
Not likely that a PA or NP can see a patient
for the first visit if there is a causation
question.
More information is going to be needed to
satisfy the new questions about
causation.
Treating Physician(2)
More careful questioning.
More careful documentation.
Document verbal communications.
New: Released from disclosure form (C-31).
Communications (all pertinent) to
employer/carrier/adjuster/case
manager
will not be restricted.
MMI, PIR
Now: ‘should’ complete and “scheduled member”
New: The treating physician is required to give
MMI “..conclusively presumed to be at MMI
when the treating physician ends all active
medical treatment…”
except “…treatment of pain …”
New: The permanent impairment rating “shall be
assigned by the treating physician…” and is
to be converted to “body as a whole.”
MMI(1)
“ a point in time…when further medical or surgical
intervention cannot be expected to improve the
underlying impairment…not predicated on the
elimination of symptoms and/or subjective
complaints…stable…or can be managed with
palliative measures. MMI does not preclude the
deterioration…that is expected to occur with the
passage of time…or normal aging process…”
• AMA Guides, 6th edition
MMI(2)
“…it does not preclude allowance for ongoing
follow-up for optimal maintenance of the medical
condition in question.”
• AMA guides, 6th edition
“…patient may decline recommended
treatment…or choose not to comply with
recommended life style changes (weight
reduction, smoking cessation)…physician may
explain…and comment…”
• AMA Guides Newsletter: Brooks, 2014.
Pain
“…shall not consider complaints of pain in
calculating the degree of impairment,
notwithstanding allowances for pain provided by
the applicable edition of the AMA guides…”
(50-6-204(k)(2).
“…is not entitled to a second opinion on…pain
management.”
U/R after 90 days of any schedule II, III, IV.
referral to “pain specialist”
Guidance on Pain Ratings(1)
Ultimately the Judge’s Decision
This is not a causation statute. It is designed to
remove some subjectivity from the rating
process.
1. Do not use Chapter 3 or PDQ.
Very few circumstances.
2. In nerve injury, use sensory deficit as opposed
to pain assessment.
Guidance on Pain Rating(2)
There are three grade modifiers:
a. Physical Examination
b. Clinical Studies
c. Functional History
No change in first two.
Guidance on Pain Rating(3)
3. In the Functional History Grade Modifier:
Do not consider complaints of “pain” in using this
modifier.
Use concepts such as limited motion or weakness
in assessing functional abilities and limitations.
Guidance on Pain Ratings(4)
In the Upper Extremity and in the Spine Chapters:
4. If the diagnosis is non-specific chronic pain,
such as wrist pain or neck pain, by definition
there are no physical examination or clinical
studies modifiers that apply.
Do not use the functional history modifier.
Use only the default value.
Treatment Guidelines
Effective January 1, 2016
“The Administrator shall develop…”
“…for the most commonly occurring…”
“…shall presumed to be medically
necessary…and not subject to
utilization review.”
Practice Guidelines
Treatment Guidelines
Institute of Medicine(2011)
“…statements that include recommendations
intended to optimize patient care that are
informed by a systematic review of the
evidence and an assessment of the benefit
and harms of alternative care options.”
Easily Accessible, user friendly
Reasonable acquisition and use cost
Potential Decisions
1) Most numbers of procedures
2) High cost-length of disability
(indemnity and medical)
3) Payment under “open medical”
Administrator decides.
(in consultation with the
Medical Advisory Committee)
Timeline
look for preliminary announcement on the
Workers’ Compensation Website:
http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/wcomp/providers.shtml
Timeline(2)
First Guideline:
Management of Chronic Pain
Coordinating with the Department of Health:
http://health.tn.gov/Downloads/ChronicPainGuidelines.pdf
Other Topics
Medical Fee Schedule
ICD-10
MIRR
Medical Fee Schedule(1)
Adjustments made by CMS to
conversion factors and RVUs January 1, 2014.
No change in the (combined) Tennessee
conversion factor (GPCI, facility, etc) to
calculate the RVUs,
remains at 33.764.
even though CMS raised the (combined)
Tennessee conversion factor but
lowered some of the RVUs.
Medical Fee Schedule(2)
The conversion factor and the calculations were
written into the rules (0800-02-18-.02(4)), so that
if CMS reduced their conversion factors (SGR)
below that level, the practitioners would not be
affected without a hearing.
Effect of 2014 CMS RVU changes:
orthopaedic impact (99204): -$10.00)
Medical Fee Schedule(3)
Tennessee-specific
service (specialty) percentages unchanged
(Ortho-Neuro = 275%)
Calculation unchanged.
Since the Medical Fee Schedule follows CMS,
Watch for NCCI edits:
new: shoulder bundles for 2014
ICD-10
The Division does not pay bills
It collects data and uses it for:
1. Case Management
2. Utilization Review
3. Benefits review and awards
4. Mediation
5. Compliance
6. Penalties
ICD-10
1. The Division of Workers’ Compensation is
considering accepting the use of ICD-10 codes on all
submissions for Date of Service (DOS) on of after 1
October, 2014.
2. It will not be necessary to convert codes from ICD-9
to ICD-10.
3. For the special circumstance where DOS includes
before and after 1 October, 2014(5), such as an inpatient admission, the Division will accept either or both
codes, in accordance with CMS guidelines.
4. As this issue in in flux, the Division has not made a
determination yet. We are still gathering information.
Watch for further information on the web site.
MIRR
Medical Impairment Rating Registry
Function: independent review when an
appeal is made by any party to a
dispute about an impairment rating.
Stipulated before a hearing.
Recruiting.
Requirements: certification and review.
Reference List
Workers’ Compensation Law:
http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/tncode/
Rules:
http://www.tn.gov/sos/rules/0800/0800-02/080002.htm
Website:
http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/wcomp/providers.shtml
Department of Health:
http://health.tn.gov/Downloads/ChronicPain
Guidelines.pdf
Changes
“Nothing is constant except change”
-Heraclitus500BC.