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TITLE 28INSURANCE
PART 2TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
CHAPTER 134BENEFITS--GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL SERVICES, CHARGES, AND PAYMENTS
SUBCHAPTER CMEDICAL FEE GUIDELINES
RULE §134.250Maximum Medical Improvement Evaluations and Impairment Rating Examinations

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) and/or impairment rating (IR) examinations shall be billed and reimbursed as follows:

  (1) The total maximum allowable reimbursement (MAR) for an MMI/IR examination shall be equal to the MMI evaluation reimbursement plus the reimbursement for the body area(s) evaluated for the assignment of an IR. The MMI/IR examination shall include:

    (A) the examination;

    (B) consultation with the injured employee;

    (C) review of the records and films;

    (D) the preparation and submission of reports (including the narrative report, and responding to the need for further clarification, explanation, or reconsideration), calculation tables, figures, and worksheets; and

    (E) tests used to assign the IR, as outlined in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), as stated in the Labor Code and Chapter 130 of this title.

  (2) A health care provider shall only bill and be reimbursed for an MMI/IR examination if the doctor performing the evaluation (i.e., the examining doctor) is an authorized doctor in accordance with the Labor Code and Chapter 130 of this title.

    (A) If the examining doctor, other than the treating doctor, determines MMI has not been reached, the MMI evaluation portion of the examination shall be billed and reimbursed in accordance with paragraph (3) of this section. Modifier "NM" shall be added.

    (B) If the examining doctor determines MMI has been reached and there is no permanent impairment because the injury was sufficiently minor, an IR evaluation is not warranted and only the MMI evaluation portion of the examination shall be billed and reimbursed in accordance with paragraph (3) of this section.

    (C) If the examining doctor determines MMI has been reached and an IR evaluation is performed, both the MMI evaluation and the IR evaluation portions of the examination shall be billed and reimbursed in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this section.

  (3) The following applies for billing and reimbursement of an MMI evaluation.

    (A) An examining doctor who is the treating doctor shall bill using CPT code 99455 with the appropriate modifier.

      (i) Reimbursement shall be the applicable established patient office visit level associated with the examination.

      (ii) Modifiers "V1," "V2," "V3," "V4," or "V5" shall be added to the CPT code to correspond with the last digit of the applicable office visit.

    (B) If the treating doctor refers the injured employee to another doctor for the examination and certification of MMI (and IR); and the referral examining doctor has:

      (i) previously been treating the injured employee, then the referral doctor shall bill the MMI evaluation in accordance with paragraph (3)(A) of this section; or

      (ii) not previously treated the injured employee, then the referral doctor shall bill the MMI evaluation in accordance with paragraph (3)(C) of this section.

    (C) An examining doctor, other than the treating doctor, shall bill using CPT code 99456. Reimbursement shall be $350.

  (4) The following applies for billing and reimbursement of an IR evaluation.

    (A) The health care provider shall include billing components of the IR evaluation with the applicable MMI evaluation CPT code. The number of body areas rated shall be indicated in the units column of the billing form.

    (B) When multiple IRs are required as a component of a designated doctor examination under this title, the designated doctor shall bill for the number of body areas rated and be reimbursed $50 for each additional IR calculation. Modifier "MI" shall be added to the MMI evaluation CPT code.

    (C) For musculoskeletal body areas, the examining doctor may bill for a maximum of three body areas.

      (i) Musculoskeletal body areas are defined as follows:

        (I) spine and pelvis;

        (II) upper extremities and hands; and

        (III) lower extremities (including feet).

      (ii) The MAR for musculoskeletal body areas shall be as follows:

        (I) $150 for each body area if the diagnosis related estimates (DRE) method found in the AMA Guides fourth edition is used.

        (II) If full physical evaluation, with range of motion, is performed:

          (-a-) $300 for the first musculoskeletal body area; and

          (-b-) $150 for each additional musculoskeletal body area.

      (iii) If the examining doctor performs the MMI examination and the IR testing of the musculoskeletal body area(s), the examining doctor shall bill using the appropriate MMI CPT code with modifier "WP." Reimbursement shall be 100 percent of the total MAR.

      (iv) If, in accordance with §130.1 of this title, the examining doctor performs the MMI examination and assigns the IR, but does not perform the range of motion, sensory, or strength testing of the musculoskeletal body area(s), then the examining doctor shall bill using the appropriate MMI CPT code with CPT modifier "26." Reimbursement shall be 80 percent of the total MAR.

      (v) If a health care provider, other than the examining doctor, performs the range of motion, sensory, or strength testing of the musculoskeletal body area(s), then the health care provider shall bill using the appropriate MMI CPT code with modifier "TC." In accordance with §130.1 of this title, the health care provider must be certified. Reimbursement shall be 20 percent of the total MAR.

    (D) Non-musculoskeletal body areas shall be billed and reimbursed using the appropriate CPT code(s) for the test(s) required for the assignment of IR.

      (i) Non-musculoskeletal body areas are defined as follows:

        (I) body systems;

        (II) body structures (including skin); and

        (III) mental and behavioral disorders.

      (ii) For a complete list of body system and body structure non-musculoskeletal body areas, refer to the appropriate AMA Guides.

      (iii) When the examining doctor refers testing for non-musculoskeletal body area(s) to a specialist, then the following shall apply:

        (I) The examining doctor (e.g., the referring doctor) shall bill using the appropriate MMI CPT code with modifier "SP" and indicate one unit in the units column of the billing form. Reimbursement shall be $50 for incorporating one or more specialists' report(s) information into the final assignment of IR. This reimbursement shall be allowed only once per examination.

        (II) The referral specialist shall bill and be reimbursed for the appropriate CPT code(s) for the tests required for the assignment of IR. Documentation is required.

      (iv) When there is no test to determine an IR for a non-musculoskeletal condition:

        (I) The IR is based on the charts in the AMA Guides. These charts generally show a category of impairment and a range of percentage ratings that fall within that category.

        (II) The impairment rating doctor must determine and assign a finite whole percentage number rating from the range of percentage ratings.

        (III) Use of these charts to assign an IR is equivalent to assigning an IR by the DRE method as referenced in subparagraph (C)(ii)(I) of this paragraph.

      (v) The MAR for the assignment of an IR in a non-musculoskeletal body area shall be $150.

  (5) If the examination for the determination of MMI and/or the assignment of IR requires testing that is not outlined in the AMA Guides, the appropriate CPT code(s) shall be billed and reimbursed in addition to the fees outlined in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this section.

  (6) The treating doctor is required to review the certification of MMI and assignment of IR performed by another doctor, as stated in the Labor Code and Chapter 130 of this title. The treating doctor shall bill using CPT code 99455 with modifier "VR" to indicate a review of the report only, and shall be reimbursed $50.


Source Note: The provisions of this §134.250 adopted to be July 7, 2016, 41 TexReg 4839

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