0800-02-18-.01
Medicare-Basis For System, Applicability, Effective Date And
Cite as Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-18-.01
CODING REFERENCES.
(1)
The Medical Fee Schedule of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (Bureau) is
a Medicare-based system with Tennessee Specific Conversion Percentages. These Medical
Fee Schedule Rules apply to all injured employees claiming benefits under the Tennessee
Workers’ Compensation Law. The Medical Fee Schedule is based upon the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) Resource Based Relative Value Scale (“RBRVS”)
system, utilizing the CMS’ relative value units (“RVUs”) adjusted for the Tennessee
Geographic Practice Index (“GPCI”). CMS base units are used for anesthesia services.
Tennessee Specific Conversion Percentages adopted by the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’
Compensation are applied in these Rules. Services that are not valued by Medicare are gap
filled, when possible, based on FAIR Health data provided to the Bureau each year and
reviewed on an annual basis by the Administrator in consultation with the Medical Payment
Committee and Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation pursuant to T.C.A. § 50-6-204.
These Medical Fee Schedule Rules shall be used in conjunction with the current American
Medical Association’s (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®), CMS’ Healthcare
Common Procedure Coding System (“HCPCS”), the National Correct Coding Initiative edits
(“NCCI”) and current effective Medicare procedures and guidelines, unless specifically
exempted in these rules. Providers rendering medically appropriate care outside of the state
of Tennessee to an injured employee pursuant to the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation
Law may be paid in accordance with the medical fee schedule, law, and rules governing in
the jurisdiction where such medically appropriate care is provided, upon waiver granted by
the Bureau.
(2)
These Medical Fee Schedule Rules shall also be used in conjunction with Rules for Medical
Payments, Chapter 0800-02-17, and the Inpatient Hospital Fee Schedule Rules, Chapter
0800-02-19. The definitions set out in those rules, as well as the other general provisions,
including but not limited to those regarding electronic billing and prompt payment of
provider’s bills, are adopted by reference as if set forth fully herein.
(3)
These Medical Fee Schedule Rules become effective following promulgation and upon
adoption by the Bureau and remain in effect until modified or replaced by the Bureau. These
Rules apply to all services provided on or after the effective date.
MEDICAL FEE SCHEDULE
CHAPTER 0800-02-18
(4)
The reimbursement rates shall be set forth in rate tables as an appendix to the Medical Fee
Schedule. They shall be effective following promulgation and upon adoption by the Bureau
of the Medical Fee Schedule Rules and annually on April 1 thereafter.