Senate Bill No. by Senator Seabaugh amends and reenacts R.S. 23:1034.2 to create a comprehensive reimbursement schedule for medical charges related to workers' compensation claims in Louisiana. The bill requires the assistant secretary of the office of workers' compensation administration to establish and update this reimbursement schedule at least every two years, ensuring alignment with legislative purposes. Key features include the establishment of reimbursement rates for various medical services, the introduction of uniform coding and billing standards, and a process for resolving disputes over reimbursement amounts. Notably, reimbursement for dental services is capped at the seventieth percentile of the National Dental Advisory Service Comprehensive Fee Report.

The bill also introduces a reimbursement hearing officer position, requiring significant experience in medical coding and billing to oversee disputes related to billing and reimbursement. It outlines appeal procedures for decisions made by independent medical bill reviewers and establishes timelines for payment following these decisions. The Workers' Compensation Act is renamed to the "Workers' Compensation Law," and several technical changes are made to the reimbursement schedule. The provisions of this Act will take effect on January 1, 2027, applying to charges incurred under the workers' compensation law from that date forward.

Statutes affected:
SB213 Original: