FAIR Health Data Inform New Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule

January 01, 2017

The Commissioner of Kentucky’s Department of Workers’ Claims (DWC) recently released the Commonwealth’s 2016 Kentucky Schedule of Fees for Physicians, which was updated based on FAIR Health’s charge data. The new fee schedule became effective October 7, 2016.

In the recent past, Kentucky has reviewed and revised its workers’ compensation fee schedule every two to three years. FAIR Health has assisted the DWC with that process since 2012, providing current market-based charge data from our claims repository to support the updating and expansion processes.

FAIR Health Responds to Formal RFP

The DWC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), soliciting competitive bids for the analysis, revision and updating of its Schedule of Fees for Physicians, and FAIR Health was awarded the project. The goal of the revision was to conduct a comprehensive analysis to ensure that the fee schedule addresses changes in service utilization, related costs and practice patterns in Kentucky and continues to meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

Over the ensuing months, FAIR Health presented a variety of options for DWC’s consideration. We held fact-finding discussions with leadership and stakeholders in Kentucky to learn about their priorities for the new fee schedule. Our staff then analyzed and compared values in the existing fee schedule to physicians’ billed charges and insurers’ allowed amounts in Kentucky, reviewed and valued new procedure codes and updated fees for the proposed 2016 fee schedule. FAIR Health participated in meetings with Kentucky stakeholders and Commonwealth officials and updated the schedule to address their feedback. The fee schedule then went through a formal approval process, and after a comment period, was approved for adoption by the Commonwealth’s legislature.

Data Solutions for a Wide Range of State Initiatives

FAIR Health’s role in Kentucky’s initiative is the latest in a long list of engagements with government agencies. In addition to FAIR Health’s selection by Georgia to update its 2016 workers’ compensation fee schedule, we have provided data to support state dispute resolution programs, dental programs, disability programs, government health plans and auto liability programs, as well as emergency services fee schedules, among other initiatives.

For information about the wide range of data products and tools FAIR Health can offer your state’s health programs, contact us by e-mail at service@fairhealth.org or call us at 855-301-3247, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm ET.

To sign up for FAIR Health’s free, hour-long webinar on state applications of FAIR Health data, “How States Use FAIR Health Data: Consumer Protection Laws, Workers’ Compensation Fees, Medicaid Compliance and More,” to be held on Wednesday, November 9, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET, click here.