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, 2018.  The next expected update is for April 2018.

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, 2020. The next update is expected in October 2020.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published and made available the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation and Workplace Annual Report.  To view this notice, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/Pages/default.aspx.

FEE SCHEDULE NEWS:

• Posted an update to their fee schedule regarding COVID-19 information. As Pennsylvania and the nation continue to implement mitigation efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation has taken rapid and impact able measures to keep the workers' compensation system operating in Pennsylvania. The fee schedule now includes the following six (6) new CPT/HCPCS codes (87635/U0001/U0002/G2023/ G2024/T5999) in the Part B Fee Schedule for payment relating to the COVID-19 testing. These new codes are effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2020. There are no rates currently established for these codes, so please refer to §127.102 of the Medical Cost Containment regulations regarding payment.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The Insurance Department (Department) has determined that no contributions will be required during 2020 to maintain the balance of the Workers' Compensation Security Fund (Fund). Section 9(1) of the Workers' Compensation Security Fund Act (act) (77 P.S. § 1059(1)) states ‘‘[I]f, due to the payment of liabilities or claims, the balance of the fund is reduced below $500,000,000, the department shall require contributions to maintain the actuarial soundness of the fund and to restore, in a timely manner, the balance of the fund to a level at or above $500,000,000.'' As of the evaluation of December 31, 2019, the balance of the Fund exceeded $500,000,000. Therefore, insurers writing workers' compensation insurance in this Commonwealth will not be required to submit contributions to the Fund in 2020. The act may be viewed at ncigf.org (select ''Resources,'' then ''Laws and Law Summaries'') and 31 Pa. Code Chapter 165 (relating to the Workers' Compensation Security Fund) may be viewed at www.pacodeandbulletin.gov Additional information regarding the Fund is located on the Department's web site at www.insurance.pa.gov. Acknowledgement of this notice is not required. JESSICA K. ALTMAN, Insurance Commissioner.  To view this notice, go to https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol50/50-19/651.html&search=1&searchunitkeywords=.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the fee schedule update memo for April 2020.  To view the update memo, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/HCSR/MedFeeReview/Fee%20Schedule/Pages/default.aspx

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• The state has updated its 2020 fee schedule page.  To view the updated page, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/HCSR/MedFeeReview/Fee%20Schedule/Pages/default.aspx.

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, 2020. The next expected update is for April 2020.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

•  For all WCAIS Registered Users: In January, you will see a new Quick Link on your dashboard titled “Records Request Online”. We encourage users to use this new link to submit any non-subpoena request for records rather than having to submit these requests by mail or fax. When you click on the link you simply need to enter the claimant name (last and first) and upload an authorization form, with proper documentation, in PDF format. As with requests mailed or faxed to the bureau, be sure to include the claimant’s name, Social Security Number (at least the last 4 digits), injury date(s) and party representation in your documentation. For a preview of step by step instructions of how to submit requests online, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/Pages/default.aspx
• Department of Labor & Industry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the maximum compensation payable under the Workers' Compensation Act, under Article 1, subsections 105.1 and 105.2, shall be $1,081.00 per week for injuries occurring on and after Jan. 1, 2020. For purposes of calculating the update to payments for medical treatment rendered on and after Jan. 1, 2020, the percentage increase in the Statewide Average Weekly Wage is 3.1 percent. To view this notice, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/claims/Pages/Statewide-Average-Weekly-Wage-(SAWW).aspx

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, 2019. The next update is expected in January 2020.

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, 2019. The next expected update is in October 1, 2019.

REGULATORY ACTIVITY:

• Published the April Fee Schedule Update Memo. To view the memo, go to https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/WC/HCSR/MedFeeReview/Fee%20Schedule/Pages/default.aspx.

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, 2019. The next expected update is for July 2019.