This report can help policymakers and other stakeholders identify current cost drivers and emerging trends in payments, prices, and utilization of medical services among nonhospital and hospital providers in the Georgia workers’ compensation system.

It examines medical payments, prices, and utilization in Georgia compared with 17 other states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin) and how key metrics have changed from 2011 to 2016.

Data in this report also reflect up to 35 months of experience after the outpatient reimbursement method changed from a fee schedule based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) to a fee schedule based on Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) in 2014. This may be helpful for those looking to monitor the impact of this regulation change.

CompScope™ Medical Benchmarks for Georgia, 19th Edition. William Monnin-Browder. October 2018. WC-18-26.