REGULATORY ANALYSIS
FOR AMENDMENTS OF RULE 18
OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION RULES OF PROCEDURE
7 CCR 1101-3

1.	Description of classes of persons who will be affected by the rules, including classes that will bear the costs of the rules and classes that will benefit from the rules.

The classes of persons affected by the rules are all persons and entities involved in the Colorado Workers’ Compensation system.  This includes, but is not limited to, injured workers, health care providers, insurance carriers, third party administrators and employers.

2.	Description of the probable quantitative and qualitative impact of the proposed rules, economic or otherwise, upon the classes of affected persons.

These rules revise, update or clarify the current Rule 18.  Amendments to Rule 18 reflect revisions or updates to terminology, billing codes, rule language, procedures, requirements, payments and exhibits related to the medical fee schedule for the purpose of correcting typographical errors..  

The medical fee schedule sets maximum rates for professional services and establishes facility fees applicable to all providers who bill facility fees.  The previously adopted version of the rule included typographical errors including incorrect citations and reimbursement rates.  The proposed changes will ensure the previously adopted rules adequately reflect the intended impact of the previously adopted version.

3.	Probable costs to the agency and other agencies of the implementation and enforcement of the proposed rules and any anticipated effect on state revenues.

No impact on costs or revenues is anticipated as a result of the rule changes.  The costs for updating the billing system for the Workers’ Compensation Major Medical Insurance Fund will be absorbed with existing resources by the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

4.	Comparison of the probable costs and benefits of the proposed rules to the probable costs and benefits of inaction. 

The cost of adopting the proposed rule will be minimal, as the changes are corrections to typographical and clerical mistakes.  Failure to take this action will result in some payees being substantially undercompensated for the services they perform within the workers’ compensation system. 

5.	Determination of whether there are less costly or less intrusive methods for achieving the purpose of the rules.

There are no known less costly or less intrusive means.  These corrections carry no cost and are non-intrusive. 

6.	Description of any alternative methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed rules that were seriously considered by the agency and the reasons they were rejected in favor of the proposed rules.

Because the purpose of this proposed amendment is to correct typographical and clerical errors, no alternatives were seriously considered.  The previously adopted version of the rules includes incorrect reimbursement rates and citations which must be corrected.  No alternative exists.  

Copies of the Notice of Public Hearing were provided to the:

Colorado Association of School Boards
Colorado Counties, Inc.
Colorado Municipal League
Special District Association of Colorado
Colorado Hospital Association
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
Mountain States Employers Council
Colorado Self-Insurers Association
				   Colorado Medical Society