MEMORANDUM

DATE:             June 5, 2007

TO:                Parties Impacted By the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation 
                       Medical Fee Schedule for Physicians

FROM:          William P. Emrick

                       Executive Director,

                       Kentucky Office of Workers’ Claims

RE:                Senate Bill 103

                      Registered Nurse First Assistants Reimbursement and the

                      2005 Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule for
                      Physicians

Pursuant to Senate Bill 103 which amended KRS 342.035 and will be effective June 25, 2007, surgical first assisting services provided by Registered Nurse First Assistants (RNFA), as defined in KRS 216B.015 (24), may be billed by and shall be reimbursed directly to the RNFA. This will apply only if reimbursement for an assisting physician would be covered and an RNFA who performed the services would be used as a substitute.  In addition, the RNFA may not be employed by the hospital or the surgeon performing the service.  KRS 342.035 applies to surgical first assisting services provided for Kentucky workers’ compensation related injuries and illnesses.

This will apply to all bills with dates-of-service rendered on or after June 25, 2007.

Please note the following changes to the “2005 Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule for Physicians”:

Page 14, #3:  please insert the following:  “Effective June 25, 2007 and pursuant to KRS 342.035, surgical first assisting services provided by Registered Nurse First Assistants, as defined in KRS 216B.015 (24), may be billed by and shall be reimbursed directly to the RNFA.”

Page 23:  please insert the following in the section titled “Mid-Level Practitioners”:  “Effective June 25, 2007 and pursuant to KRS 342.035, surgical first assisting services provided by Registered Nurse First Assistants, as defined in KRS 216B.015 (24), may be billed by and shall be reimbursed directly to the RNFA.”

Registered Nurse First Assistant will be deleted from the following sentence:  Services provided by Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Clinical (Nurse) Specialists and Registered Nurse First Assistants must be billed by the physician(s) overseeing these providers.

Page 95:  please insert the following in the section titled “Mid-Level Practitioners”:  “Effective June 25, 2007 and pursuant to KRS 342.035, surgical first assisting services provided by Registered Nurse First Assistants, as defined in KRS 216B.015(24), may be billed by and shall be reimbursed directly to the RNFA.”

Page 666-667:  please insert the following in the section titled “Mid-Level Practitioners”:  “Effective June 25, 2007 and pursuant to KRS 342.035, surgical first assisting services provided by Registered Nurse First Assistants, as defined in KRS 216B.015 (24), may be billed by and shall be reimbursed directly to the RNFA.”

If you have any questions, please contact Pam Knight, supervisor, Medical Services Branch,  502-564-5550, ext. 4449 or by e-mail: pamela.knight@ky.gov