FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of October 1, 2017.  The next expected update is for January 1, 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board Schedule for 2018.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Posted the following notice in the state register: Under 34 Pa. Code § 131(b) (relating to payments for prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals—generally), the Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation, gives notice that it utilizes the Red Book, published by Truven Health Analytics, to determine the average wholesale price of prescription drugs.
• Posted the following notice in the state register:  Under 34 Pa. Code § 667(b) (relating to compensation policy), the Department of Labor and Industry (Department), Bureau of Workers' Compensation, gives notice of the range of fees charged by Utilization Review Organizations (URO) and Peer Review Organizations (PRO) for services performed under the Workers' Compensation Act (77 P.S. §§ 1—1041.4 and 2501—2625) during 2016. The Department further provides notice of the average fee charged by each URO and PRO during 2016.Posted notice to receive comments on a proposal to amend regulations regarding the appeals board.  The proposal proposed two amendments:   Require both parties’ briefs to be submitted before making a decision to schedule oral argument and use the briefs, not oral argument, to start the internal appellate review process and Make oral arguments discretionary with the WCAB where necessary to address novel or complex legal issues, as is the practice in other Commonwealth appellate courts.
• 2016 Utilization Review Organizations Minimum and Maximum Fees

• URO/PRO	Minimum Fee	Maximum Fee
  Alico Services LTD	$238.97	$2,923.19
  American Review Systems, Inc.	$160.00	$3,930.00
  CAB Medical Consultants	$350.00	$5,334.75
  Caduceus Lex Medical Auditing	$195.85	$4,024.88
  CEC, Inc.	$410.00	$4,760.65
  Chiro Med Review Co.	$235.45	$5,633.15
  Denovo Management	$144.00	$3,350.00
  DLB Services	$84.96	$3,918.78
  Hajduk & Assoc. URO/PRO Ser.	$1.00	$3,463.82
  Industrial Rehabilitation Assoc.	$375.00	$5,875.00
  KVS Consulting Services	$314.18	$4,455.69
  Laurel Reviews	$394.67	$3,681.22
  Margroff Review Services	$233.61	$3,903.53
  McBride & McBride Associates	$535.90	$4,100.21
  Quality Assurance Reviews, Inc.	$595.00	$6,792.84
  Rachels Reviews	$173.54	$4,992.24
  T & G Reviews	$400.00	$3,875.00
  Uniontown MRPC	$204.72	$6,713.50
  Watson Review Services	$168.56	$4,525.82
  West Penn IME, Inc.	$496.00	$6,432.24
  Total Averages (2016)	$285.57	$4,634.33oral arguments discretionary with the WCAB where necessary to address novel or complex legal issues, as is the practice in other Commonwealth appellate courts.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of July 1, 2017.  The next expected update is for October 1, 2017.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of April 1, 2017.  The next expected update is for July 1, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The 16th Annual, Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Conference will be held on June 12-13, 2017 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• The state has adopted changes to the PAWC Part A and Part B Fee Schedule services with an effective date of January 1, 2017.  Fees have been increased 1.7% per the new statewide average weekly wage and are applicable to all services rendered on and after January 1, 2017.  The next expected update is for April 1, 2017.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The statewide average weekly wage for injuries occurring on and after Jan. 1, 2017, is $995.00 per week and represents an increase of 1.7 percent from 2016.