The Illinois Legislature has passed a bill that reforms the state's workers' compensation system, slashing reimbursement rates to hospitals by approximately, 30 percent.
The plan is expected to save Illinois employers half a billion dollars a year, according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has indicated he will sign the bill.
Provisions in the bill, HB1698, include the following:
- 30 percent reduction in the medical fee schedule
- Caps on carpal tunnel awards
- Caps on wage differential awards
- Imposes AMA standards
- Strengthens utilization review
- Creates healthcare networks for workers' compensation