Bill > S0286

This bill amends South Carolina's workers' compensation law to expand the Workers' Compensation Commission's authority in establishing and managing medical fee schedules. Specifically, the bill allows the commission to create comprehensive medical fee schedules and related systems for medical services provided in workers' compensation cases, with the goal of ensuring quality medical care and access to treatment while controlling system costs. The commission is now empowered to consider various reimbursement methodologies, including using multiple conversion factors and relative value scale calculations, and may retain expert consultants to help develop these schedules. The bill mandates an annual review of the fee schedules, during which the commission will consider factors such as the medical consumer price index and fee schedules from neighboring states. The bill also maintains existing provisions that require commission approval for fees and prohibit solicitation of employment related to compensation claims. Additionally, the bill preserves a process for appealing significant fee schedule changes, allowing for expedited review by the Administrative Law Court, which can accept, modify, or revert proposed adjustments. The legislation takes effect upon the Governor's approval.

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https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0286&session=126&summary=B