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WCRI study shows Delaware fee schedule decrease

Posted On: Nov. 15, 2017 11:35 AM CST

WCRI study shows Delaware fee schedule decrease

Delaware’s overall workers compensation fee schedule rates for professional services has decreased by 40% since enactment of reform legislation in 2015, according to a study released Tuesday by the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The study examined the effects of 2015, 2016 and 2017 workers comp fee schedule changes on the allowable reimbursement rates for professional services, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, and ambulatory surgery center services in Delaware.

Before 2015, Delaware had the second-highest overall fee schedule rate for professional services relative to Medicare, 123% above Medicare among 44 jurisdictions with fee schedules. In 2017 the overall professional fee schedule in Delaware was 31% above Medicare, according to the study.

“In many states, policymakers and other stakeholders are looking to fee schedules to help control the growth of medical care costs in their workers’ compensation systems, while avoiding access-to-care issues,” John Ruser, president and CEO of the WCRI, said in a statement.