FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has posted new updates to both the Physician and Hospital/ASC Fee Schedules with an effective date of January 1, 2018.  A new update for the Hospital/ASC Fee Schedule is expected on April 1, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted Bulletin Number 2020-12 regarding producer, adjuster, and Title Ins Agent Licensing issues in light of the COVID-19 Emergency -Modifications of Bulletins number 2020-03 and Bulletin 2020-10.  Bulletin 2020-12 became effective May 25, 2020.  To view the bulletin, go to https://www.aldoi.gov/Legal/Bulletins.aspx.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

• Senate Bill 24 The legislation was enacted as a result of a sunset review of the Department of Insurance.  The legislation enacted continues the operation of the Department of Insurance through October 1, 2024.  Effective Date March 12, 2020.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted a new Medical and Hospital Fee Schedule effective March 1, 2020. The next expected update is July 1^st, 2020 for the Hospital Fee Schedule.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Issued Bulletins No. 2020-02 through No. 2020-05 for the Department of Insurance’s responses to the COVID-19 Emergency. To view the bulletins, go to https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/COVID19.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• Alabama has released updates to the Hospital and ASC fee schedules, Addendum 3, with effective dates for October 2019 and January 2020. A new medical fee schedule is expected to become effective March 1, 2020.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has published Revision 1 updates for the 2019 Ambulatory Surgery Center Fee Schedule and for the 2019 Hospital Fee Schedule.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The Division of Workers’ Compensation has posted Addendum 5 to the state’s 2018 Medical Fee Schedule, Hospital Rates. These rates have different effective dates.
• The state has posted new updates to the Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule with an effective date of March 1, 2019. The newly posted schedules include updates to Ambulance, Anesthesia, ASC, Chiropractic, Clinical Lab, Dental, Disability Codes, DME, Home Health, Hospital, In-Office Surgery, Optometrist, Pain Pump, Pharmaceutics, Physical Therapy and Physicians modules.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published Addendum 4 to the workers' compensation fee schedule.  The Addendum 4 can be seen at https://labor.alabama.gov/wc/2018FeeSchedules.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted Addendum #3 to the 2018 Alabama Workers’ Compensation Prevailing Reimbursement/Maximum Fee Schedule with changes to the Hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center Schedules effective July 1, 2018. The next update is expected in October 2018.  To view the addendum, go to https://labor.alabama.gov/wc/2018FeeSchedules.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted Addendum 2 to the 2018 Alabama Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule with changes to Physicians Fee Schedule, In-Office Surgery Fee Schedule and Clinical Lab Schedule with an effective date of May 4, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published Addendum 2 to the 2018 Medical Fee Schedule.  The addendum addresses adjustments to the maximum fee schedule making adjustments by adding new CPT and HCPCS codes, and clinical lab fees.  To view the addendum, go to https://labor.alabama.gov/wc/2018FeeSchedules.aspx.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

House Bill 192

• The enacted legislation makes changes to death benefits paid to the surviving spouse if the surviving spouse was married to a law enforcement official or firefighter that was killed in the line of duty.  If the surviving spouse was married to a law enforcement official or firefighter and remarries, the surviving spouse will continue to receive benefits due.   Effective Date August 1, 2018.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the Hospital and ASC fee schedules through Addendum 1.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published addendum 1 to the 2018 medical fee schedule.  Addendum 1 addresses revisions to the 2018 Ambulatory Surgery Center Fee Schedule and the 2018 Hospital Fee Schedule.  To view a copy of the addendum and revised ASC and Hospital fee schedule, go to https://labor.alabama.gov/wc/2018FeeSchedules.aspx.