Workers’ compensation and medical billing: Virginia’s approach

On Behalf of | May 27, 2020 | Workers' Compensation |

It can be hard to set a price on recovery after an accident on the job. The secret to a healthy recovery may rest in focusing on the treatment rather than the price tag. Changes in how Virginia approaches medical billing has meant smaller payouts for care, but it doesn’t mean less care is paid out.

The average amount of a workers’ compensation claim has dropped 13% since the state crafted a fee schedule, according to a study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This means that even though insurers might be paying less, you’re likely getting the same attention as before.

Billing structure

A fee schedule is a list of medical treatments and their costs. It outlines how much an insurance provider should pay doctors for their services. The aim is to stop ballooning medical costs by outlining payment parameters. According to the WCRI, it seems to be working.

Rising care

While many states participating in the study saw a climb in payments, Virginia saw a decrease of 8% across total costs in the first year following the new policy. Another study from the WCRI looked at payments over the last decade. They reported some states without a fee schedule were paying up to 171% more than those with set standards.

While you want to see a full recovery, the amount the insurance company pays out may not be as important as the care you receive. Make sure you know what you need to do to get back to work, and you could have the answer to how much the policy should pay.