CA DWC updates ambulance fee schedule to incorporate Medicare's 2007 rates in public use file effective Feb. 1, 2007

Oakland, CA (WCNPC) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule on Dec. 6, 2006, establishing the ambulance inflation factor for calendar year 2007 and adopting new geographic standards for the ambulance fee schedule. CMS has now published its 2007 public use files, which contain rates for 2007, including the inflation factor as well as changes based on the new geographic factors adopted by CMS in its final rule effective Jan. 1, 2007. The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) administrative director already adopted an order applying the ambulance inflation factor, but to the rates in the 2006 public use file. The administrative director has now adopted an order, effective Feb. 1, 2007, which incorporates the other provisions in CMS's final rule, and which adopts the rates in the 2007 public use files. The rates for trips originating in some ZIP codes may change because of CMS's adoption of the new geographic standards. This order adjusting the ambulance services section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) conforms the schedule to the changes in the Medicare payment system as required by Labor Code section 5307.1.

The order can be found at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/OMFS9904.htm.