Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division Reviewing Medical Service and Billing Rules Nov. 5th
The WCD is hosting an advisory committee meeting on November 5, 2024. You can find the agenda here including information about how to participate in the meeting.
The WCD regularly reviews these rules to make sure medical service billings are appropriately updated, but there are several topics being discussed including:
- Whether platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection should become a compensable medical service in limited situations;
- Adjusting payment for distant site providers;
- Addressing concerns with telehealth providers including asking whether an in-person examination could/should be required, whether the appropriateness of telehealth depends on dealing with a physical versus mental health injury, and addressing challenges to approving an out-of-state telehealth provider;
- Adding a billing code for providers reviewing records in preparation for consultation with insurer;
- Increasing the fee schedule for Worker Requested Medical Exams (WRMEs);
- Updating the fee scheduled for DME rentals;
- Changing rules to confirm a licensed audiologist, instead of the AP, can prescribe hearing aids and possibly increasing fee schedule for hearing aids;
- Increasing fee schedule for medical interpreters;
- Expanding the rules to confirm an attending is required to respond to the insurer or the employer regarding return to work issues;
- Addressing rules to require insurers to respond to a medical provider’s inquires;
If you want to participate in the upcoming meeting or have any input you would like to share, please feel free to contact me. SBH has submitted information regarding some unintended problems with telemedicine. The WCD will take the input from this meeting to determine whether to proceed with formal rulemaking on any of these issues. If you have any questions about participation in the rule making process, please contact me at or 503-595-2130.
Posted by Kevin Anderson.