Florida Division Publishes Presentation Powerpoints

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation recently participated in the 72nd Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference with the Workers' Compensation Institute, in Orlando, Florida.  The Division's breakout session included the following topics: Legislative and Rule Updates, Claims-Handling from the Regulatory Perspective, Use of Regulatory Data, and Medical Services Updates.  If you were unable to attend or would like to view the presentations, the Division power point has been published as a .PDF on the Notices tab at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/pdf/2017-WCI-Division-Presentation.pdf.  Please contact Brittany O'Neil at 850-413-1927 with any questions.

Authorization Procedures for Compounded Drugs

A news article was recently published on the authorization procedures for compounded drugs in the 2016 Edition of the Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual (HCPRM) that went into effect on July 1, 2017.   The information contained in the article may have led to a misunderstanding of the applicability of this new provision in the HCPRM.  The HCPRM defines the dispensing of compounded drugs, regardless of the cost of the compounded drugs, as a specialty service under paragraph 440.13(3)(i), F.S.  .  For any further questions related to this subject or other medical service topics, please email

WorkersComp.MedService@myfloridacfo.com.

Meet the Regulators at WCI 2017

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, in conjunction with the Workers' Compensation Institute, is pleased to provide the opportunity for attendees to individually meet and speak with Division staff at the 72nd Annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference about regulatory issues that are important to your company. This year we will offer two options for stakeholder assistance "Ask The Regulator" and "EDI On Demand."

Ask The Regulator: These one-one-one meetings will help maximize your time at the conference and provide the Division with an informal setting to interact with workers' compensation stakeholders.  The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 8, between 8:30 am - 11:30 am in the Tampa room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Go to Florida DWC regulator (www.wci360.com/conference/ask-the-regulators) to schedule an appointment and identify the issues you would like to discuss with the Division.  This will ensure that the Division has the appropriate staff available to answer your questions. An email will be sent to you confirming the time.

EDI On Demand: These EDI Triage & Training sessions are available upon email request and will provide access to Division staff on any EDI related issues and processes.  Please email Lisel.Laslie@myfloridacfo.com to request a session.  The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 8, in the St. Louis room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. An email will be sent to you confirming your meeting time.

Contact Brittany O'Neil, Policy Coordinator, Division of Workers' Compensation, 850-413-1927, email Brittany.oneil@myfloridacfo.com. 

Division Rule on Florida Compound Drugs

New section in 2016 Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, effective July 1, 2017, defines the dispensing of compound drugs as a specialty service.

Carriers, health care providers, and pharmacists should take note of a new section on page 37 of the 2016 Edition of the Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, effective July 1, 2017.  This new section defines the dispensing of compound drugs as a specialty service within the meaning of paragraph 440.13(3)(i), F.S.  Paragraph 440.13(3)(i), F.S. states in part, "Notwithstanding (d), a claim for specialist consultations, surgical operations, physiotherapeutic or occupational therapy procedures, X-ray examinations, or special diagnostic laboratory tests that cost more than $1,000 and other specialty services that the department identifies by rule is not valid and reimbursable unless the services have been expressly authorized by the carrier, unless the carrier has failed to respond within 10 days to a written request for authorization, or unless emergency care is required."

To learn more about these issues and other Workers' Compensation information click here: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/

Assessment Rate Announcement

Assessment Rates for the Florida Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund (WCATF) and the Special Disability Trust Fund (SDTF):

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) issued an Informational Bulletin (DFS-02-2017). The Bulletin advises insurers, self-insurers and other related stakeholders that Florida's Chief Financial Officer has issued an Order (Case No. 208019-17-WC) setting the Florida Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund (WCATF) assessment for Calendar Year 2018. The rate has been reduced from 1.25% to 0.97%.

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation issued another Informational Bulletin (DFS-01-2017). The Bulletin advises insurers, self-insurers and other related stakeholders that Florida's Chief Financial Officer has issued an Order (Case No. 208013-17-WC) setting the assessment rate for the Special Disability Trust Fund (SDTF) for Calendar Year 2018.  The SDTF rate has been reduced from 1.09% to 0.91%.

By actively managing the funds' expenses, assets, future funding needs and giving consideration of all appropriate economic data, the DWC was able to reduce the assessment rate for both trust funds.

The informational bulletin and Assessment Rate Orders are available on the Division's web site: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/bulletins.htm.  And the rates are available at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/wc/rates.htm.

Please contact Gene Smith at (850) 413-1644 for additional information.

To learn more about these issues and other Workers' Compensation information click here: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/

New Florida Reimbursement Manual Published

The Florida Workers' Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual, 2016 Edition will become effective July 1, 2017.  

See the following page to access the manual:  

http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/PublicationsFormsManualsReports/Manuals/Default.htm

Florida DWC proposing change to 69L-31

The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation submitted a Notice of Change for Chapter 69L-31, Florida Administrative Code.  The changes to the proposed rules are in response to oral testimony and written comments submitted to the Department by interested parties and to written comments submitted to the Department by the staff of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee.  The proposed rules include certain technical changes and clarifications.  Changes are also made to Forms DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0023 (Petition for Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute) and DFS-F6-DWC-3160-0024 (Carrier Response to Petition for Resolution of Reimbursement Dispute).

The official Notice of Change appeared in the Volume 43, Number 85 of the Florida Administrative Weekly, published on May 2, 2017.  If you have questions about the contents of this notice, please contact Theresa Pugh, Program Administrator, Medical Services Section, Division of Workers' Compensation at (850) 413-1721 or Theresa.Pugh@myfloridacfo.com.

A copy of the Notice of Change may be found here: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=18916278