Reducing Medical Costs in Workers’ Compensation Cases
In litigated Workers’ Compensation cases, medical expenses can rise rapidly, and frequently exceed 50% of the total cost of the entire claim.
What steps can employers, insurers, self-insurers and other workers’ compensation professionals take to reduce these rising medical expenses.
A Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge speaking at the 2012 SEAK NATIONAL WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE conference laid out 8 effective techniques:
1. Consider each bill when incurred as to: causation, reasonableness, and the accepted provider,
2. Consider utilization review when there is possible evidence of overtreatment,
3. Consider the use of fee schedules, panel providers, and physician contracts,
4. Don’t pay for non-compensable treatment,
5. Consider if the treatment is in fact reasonable and necessary,
6. Investigate whether medication costs can be reduced,
7. Have counsel investigate any collateral benefits that can be used to offset costs and
8. Utilize a full and final settlement to cap liability
SEAK’s upcoming 33rd ANNUAL NATIONAL WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE CONFERENCE will be held on July 16-18th 2013 on Cape Cod MA.