"These new rules will work to significantly reduce paperwork and promote timely and reasonable care to injured workers," said Cayetano.
Employers are starting to see substantial reductions in insurance premiums that have been reduced by 27 percent over the past year. In 1997, businesses should realize savings in excess of $100 million because of the reform measures that are now in effect."
Among the changes to the medical fee schedule are:
Allowing 15 treatments by physicians in 60 days without prior approval by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Eliminating prior approval of treatment plans by the department.
Adopting the same treatment guidelines for both physicians and nonphysicians, except where 20 treatments are allowed in the first 60 days.
Requiring employers to submit "documentary evidence" to justify denial of additional medical treatment.
Eliminating the requirement that the department schedule hearings within 20 days of an employer's denial of a physician's request for concurrent treatment.
Prohibiting employers from denying treatment when treatment plans do not contain all the required information, provided treatment is reasonable and necessary. Employers are not responsible for paying fees until the deficiencies are corrected.
Changing the Medicare fee schedule adjustments from a fiscal year to a calendar year basis to coincide with the publication dates of the Medicare fee schedule.
Permitting adjustments to the Workers Compensation Fee Schedule every three years.
The schedule will be available during the first week of January at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Disability Compensation Division, 830 Punchbowl St., Room 211, in Honolulu and at neighbor island offices.