SUBCHAPTER 23J – FEES FOR MEDICAL COMPENSATION

 

SECTION 0100 – FEES FOR MEDICAL COMPENSATION

 

11 NCAC 23J .0101          GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a)  Pursuant to G.S. 97-26, the Commission adopts a Medical Fee Schedule composed of maximum amounts, reimbursement rates, and payment guidelines, as set out in the rules of this Subchapter.  The amounts and reimbursement rates prescribed in the applicable published Medical Fee Schedule shall govern and apply according to G.S. 97-26(c). 

(b)  The Medical Fee Schedule is available on the Commission's website at http://www.ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/feesched.asp and in hardcopy at the offices of the Commission as set forth in 11 NCAC 23A .0101.

(c)  Insurers and managed care organizations, or administrators on their behalf, may review and reimburse charges for all medical compensation, including medical, hospital, and dental fees, without submitting the charges to the Commission for review and approval.

(d)  A provider of medical compensation shall submit its bill for services within 75 days of the rendition of the service, or if treatment is longer, within 30 days after the end of the month during which multiple treatments were provided.  However, in cases where liability is initially denied but subsequently admitted or determined by the Commission, the time for submission of medical bills shall run from the time the health care provider received notice of the admission or determination of liability.  Within 30 days of receipt of the bill, the employer, carrier, or managed care organization or administrator on its behalf, shall pay the bill or send the provider written objections to the bill.  If an employer, carrier, administrator, or managed care organization disputes a portion of the provider's bill, the employer, carrier, administrator, or managed care organization, shall pay the uncontested portion of the bill and shall resolve disputes regarding the balance of the charges through its contractual arrangement or through the Commission.

(e)  When the 10 percent addition to the bill pursuant to G.S. 97-18(i) is uncontested, payment shall be made to the provider without notifying or seeking approval from the Commission.  When the 10 percent addition to the bill is contested, any party may request a hearing by the Commission pursuant to G.S. 97-83 and G.S. 97-84.

(f)  When the responsible party seeks an audit of hospital charges, and has paid the hospital charges in full, the payee hospital, upon request, shall provide access to and copies of appropriate records, without charge or fee, to the person(s) chosen by the payor to review and audit the records.

(g)  The responsible employer, carrier, managed care organization, or administrator shall pay the bills of medical compensation providers to whom the employee has been referred by the treating physician authorized by the insurance carrier for the compensable injury or body part, unless it has requested that the physician obtain authorization for referrals or tests.  Compliance with the request shall not unreasonably delay the treatment or service to be rendered to the employee.

(h)  Employees are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses when the travel is medically necessary and the mileage is 20 or more miles, round trip, at the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service per mile of travel and the actual cost of any tolls paid. Employees are entitled to lodging and meal expenses, at the rate established for state employees by the North Carolina Director of Budget, when it is medically necessary that the employee stay overnight at a location away from the employee's usual place of residence.  Employees are entitled to reimbursement for the costs of parking or a vehicle for hire, when the costs are medically necessary, at the actual costs of the expenses.  The current reimbursement rates referenced in this Paragraph are contained in the Form 25T, Itemized Statement of Charges for Travel, which shall be used to claim travel expenses.

(i)  Any employer, carrier, or administrator denying a claim in which medical care has previously been authorized is responsible for all costs incurred prior to the date that notice of denial is provided to each health care provider to whom authorization has been previously given.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 97-18(i); 97-25; 97-25.6; 97-26; 97-80(a); 138-6; S.L. 2013-410;

Eff. January 1, 1990;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2015; July 1, 2014; January 1, 2013; June 1, 2000;

Recodified from 04 NCAC 10J .0101 Eff. June 1, 2018.