The Illinois Legislature has passed a comprehensive reform package of the state's workers' compensation system, unwelcomed news to ambulatory surgery centers which will take a financial hit with the passing of the bill, according to a report from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association of Illinois.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has indicated he will sign the bill, according to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The reformed system will hurt ASCs, physicians and hospitals as they will have to absorb significant decreases in payment for service, according to the ASCAI.
Provisions in the bill, HB1698, include the following:
- 30 percent reduction in the medical fee schedule
- Caps carpal tunnel awards
- Caps wage differential awards
- Imposes AMA standards
- Strengthens utilization review
- Creates healthcare networks for workers' compensation
Read the report about the reformed Illinois workers' compensation system from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association of Illinois.
Read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report about the reformed Illinois workers' compensation system.
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