May 22, 2013
Governor Mike Pence recently signed several pieces of legislation into law that make major overhauls to the Indiana Workers’ Compensation system. The changes are intended to reduce costs associated with claims by offering better control over the pricing of medical care.
According to an article published by Business Insurance, the bills signed into law on Saturday not only create a fee schedule for medical costs that are relevant to Medicare’s rates, but also caps the prices that can be charged for medical implants and repackaged drugs.
Medications that are reprocessed by anyone other than the original manufacturer can no longer be sold for more than the average wholesale price.
Before the reform, providers of medical supplies were allowed to charge any price they saw fit for a product, which drove costs through the roof and left many injured workers unable to afford medical care. Most lawmakers agree the changes will help to establish better regulations regarding costs of healthcare products.
The Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers with Stewart & Stewart Attorneys recognize the need for more affordable healthcare for workers who have been injured on the job. The firm is hopeful the reforms will be effective in achieving this goal.