R612-300-5. Fees for Specific Procedures

  A. Needle procedures: Trigger point injections are reported per muscle. Payment under CPT code 20553 for injections of up to three muscles is the maximum allowed for any one treatment session, regardless of the number of muscles treated.

  B. Radiology.

  1. The cost of radioisotopes, gadolinium and comparable materials may be charged at the provider's cost plus 15%.

  2. When x-rays are reviewed as part of an independent evaluation of the patient, a consultation, or other office visit, the review is included as a part of the basic service to the patient and may not be billed separately.

  C. Restorative Services.

  1. The following criteria must be met before payment is allowed for restorative services:

  a. The patient's condition must have the potential for restoration of function;

  b. The treatment must be prescribed by the treating physician;

  c. The treatment must be specifically targeted to the patient's condition; and

  d. The provider must be in constant attendance during the providing of treatment.

  2. No payment is allowed for CPT codes 97024, diathermy; 97026, infrared therapy; 97028, ultraviolet therapy/cold laser therapy; 97169, athletic training evaluations; 97172, athletic training reevaluation.

  3. All restorative services provided must be itemized even if not billed.

  4. Medical providers billing under CPT codes 97161 through 97610 are limited to payment for a maximum of three procedures/units per visit, or six procedures if different sites are treated. Services billed under CPT codes 97545, 97546 and 97150 require preauthorization and are limited to 4 units per injury. The payor shall pay the three highest valued procedures for each treatment site for the visit.

  5. Patient education is to be billed using CPT code 97535 rather than codes 98960 through 98962, and is limited to 4 units per injury claim.

  6. The entire spine is considered to be a single body part or unit. For that reason, CPT codes 98941 through 98943 and 98926 through 98929 may not be used for billing purposes.

  7. When a change in treatment or a new RSA is required, physicians and physical therapists may bill for one evaluation and up to 2 modalities/procedures. Without an evaluation, they may bill for up to 3 modalities/procedures. With prior authorization from the payor, physicians and physical therapists may make additional billing when justified by special circumstances.

  8. Any medical provider billing for restorative services shall file the appropriate version of Form 221, "Restorative Services Authorization (RSA) form" with the payor and the Division within ten days of the initial evaluation. Subjective/objective/ assessment/plan ("SOAP") notes are to be sent to the payor in addition to the RSA form. SOAP notes are not to be sent to the Division unless requested.

  a. Upon receipt of the provider's RSA form and SOAP notes, the payor shall respond within ten days by authorizing a specified number of treatments or denying the request. No more than eight treatments may be provided during this ten-day authorization period.

  b. A payor may deny the requested treatments for the following reasons:

  i. The injury or disease being treated is not work related; or

  ii. The payor has received written medical opinion or other medical information indicating the treatment is not necessary. A copy of such written opinion or information must be provided to the injured worker, the medical provider, and the Division.

  c. In cases where approval is received for initial treatment, the provider shall submit updated RSA forms and SOAP notes to the payor for approval or denial at least every six treatments.

  d. An injured worker or provider may request a hearing before the Division of Adjudication to resolve issues of compensability, necessity of treatment, and compliance with this subsection's time limits.

  D. Functional Capacity Evaluations. The following functional capacity evaluations require payor preauthorization and are billed in 15 minute increments under CPT code 97750:

  1. A limited functional capacity evaluation to determine an injured worker's dynamic maximal repetitive lifting, walking, standing and sitting tolerance. Billing for this type of evaluation is limited to a maximum of 45 minutes.

  2. A full functional capacity evaluation to determine an injured worker's maximum and repetitive lifting, walking, standing, sitting, range of motion, predicted maximal oxygen uptake, as well as ability to stoop, bend, crawl or perform work in an overhead or bent position. In addition, this evaluation includes reliability and validity measures concerning the individual's performance. Billing for this type of evaluation is limited to a maximum of 2.5 hours.

  3. A work capacity evaluation to determine an injured worker's capabilities based on the physical aspects of a specific job description. Billing for this type of evaluation is limited to a maximum of 2 hours.

  4. A job analysis to determine the physical aspects of a particular job. Billing is not subject to a maximum time limit due to the variability of factors involved in the analysis.

  E. Impairment Ratings and Insurance Medical Examinations.

  1. Impairment Rating by Treating Physician. Treating physicians shall bill for preparation of impairment ratings under CPT code 99455, with 2.0 RVU assigned/30 minutes.

  2. Impairment Rating by Non-Treating Physician. Non-treating physicians may bill for preparation of impairment ratings under CPT code 99456, with 2.65 RVU assigned/30 minutes.

  3. Medical Evaluations Commissioned by Payors. The Labor Commission does not regulate fees for medical evaluations requested by payors.

  F. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Simulators (TENS). No fee is allowed for TENS unless it is prescribed by a physician and supported by prior diagnostic testing showing the efficacy of TENS in control of the patient's chronic pain. TENS testing and training is limited to four (4) sessions and a 30-day trial period but may be extended with written documentation of medical necessity.

  G. Electophysiologic Testing. A physician who is legally authorized by his or her medical practice act to diagnose injury or disease is entitled to the full fee for electrophysiologic testing. Physical therapists and physicians who are qualified to perform such testing but who are not legally authorized to diagnose injury or disease are entitled to payment of 75% of the full fee.

  H. Dental Injuries.

  1. Initial Treatment.

  a. If an employer maintains a medical staff or designates a company doctor, an employee requiring treatment for a workplace dental injury shall report to such medical staff or doctor and follow their directions for obtaining the necessary dental treatment.

  b. If an employer does not maintain a medical staff or designate a company doctor, or if such medical staff or doctor is unavailable, the injured worker may obtain the necessary dental care from a dentist of his or her choice. The payor shall pay the dentist at 70% of UCR for services rendered.

  2. Subsequent treatment.

  a. If additional dental care is necessary, the dentist who provided initial treatment may submit to the payor a request for authorization to continue treatment. The transmission date of the request must be verifiable. The request itself must include a description of the injury, the additional treatment required, and the fee to be charged for the additional treatment.

  i. The payor shall respond to the request for authorization within 10 working days of the request's transmission. This 10-day period can be extended with written approval of the Director of the Industrial Accidents Division.

  ii. If the payor does not respond to the dentist's request for authorization within 10 working days, the dentist may proceed with treatment and the payor shall pay the cost of treatment as contained in the request for authorization.

  iii. If the payor approves the proposed treatment, the payor shall send written authorization to the dentist and injured worker. This authorization shall include the amount the payor agrees to pay for the treatment. If the dentist accepts the payor's payment offer, the dentist may proceed to provide the approved services and shall be paid the agreed upon amount.

  iv. If the dentist proceeds with treatment without authorization, the dentist's fee is limited to 70% of UCR.

  b. If the dentist who provided initial treatment is unwilling to provide subsequent treatment under the terms outlined in subsection 2.a., above, the payor shall within 20 calendar days direct the injured worker to a dentist located within a reasonable travel distance who will accept the payor's payment offer.

  i. If, after receiving notice that the payor has arranged for the services of a dentist, the injured worker chooses to obtain treatment from a different dentist, the payor shall only be liable for payment at 70% of UCR. The treating dentist may bill the injured worker for the difference between the dentist's charges and the amount paid by the insurer.

  c. If the payor is unable to locate another dentist to provide the necessary services, the payor shall attempt to negotiate a satisfactory reimbursement with the dentist who provided initial treatment.

  I. Drug testing. Drug screenings for addictive classes of pain medications shall be performed as recommended in the Utah clinical Guidelines on Prescribing Opiates for Treatment of Pain, Utah Department of Health 2009. The collection and billing shall be limited to one 80305, 80306, or 80307 code per date of service, except for unusual circumstances.

  J. Procedures for which no fee is allowed. Due to a lack of evidence of medical efficacy, no payment is authorized for the following:

  1. Muscle Testing, CPT codes 95832 through 95857;

  2. Computer based Motion Analysis, CPT codes 96000 through 96004;

  3. Athletic Training Evaluation, CPT codes 97169 to 97172;

  4. Acupuncture, CPT codes 97810 through 97814;

  5. Analysis of Data, now BR, CPT code 99090;

  6. Patient Education, CPT codes 98960 through 98962;

  7. Educational supplies, CPT code 99071; or

  8. Artificial discs, percutaneous diskectomies, endoscopic diskectomies, IDEPT, platelet rich plasma injections, thermo-rhizotomies and other heat or chemical treatments for discs.