The California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) will conduct two separate webinars on Thursday, October 13 to educate claims managers, medical billers, bill reviewers and others who deal with workers’ compensation medical treatment billing issues in California about the new standards for paper bills that take effect October 15 of this year and the electronic billing standards that take effect October 18, 2012. The Institute presented the programs to sold-out crowds this week in Oakland, and due to continuing demand, decided to offer them again as webinars for those who were unable to attend.

The first webinar will be a 2.5 hour session (9-11:45 a.m.) that will review the general rules for medical treatment billing and payment, and will focus on the standards specific to paper billings. This session will include a review of the new standard billing forms and "Bill Adjustment Reason Codes" (BARCs) that must be used to explain each adjusted payment or nonpayment of a workers’ compensation medical bill. The second webinar will run from 12:45-4:30 p.m., and will cover the e-billing standards and outline the extensive preparations that will be necessary for billers, payors and others to meet the 2012 implementation deadline. This more technical afternoon program will be especially helpful to programmers and technical staff who deal with medical billing and reimbursement matters, and those responsible for ensuring medical security. Because the general rules for both paper and electronic billing will be covered in the morning, it is recommended that those participating in the afternoon webinar also participate in the morning program.

The programs will be presented by CWCI Claims and Medical Director Brenda Ramirez and Stacy Jones of Oakland-based SLJ Consulting, both of whom served on the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Task Force on California e-billing requirements and worked with IAIABC’s EDI Medical and ProPay Committees to help develop national EDI standards for workers’ compensation. CWCI General Counsel Mike McClain will moderate the sessions. Attendees who register for the webinars can qualify for post-designation training hours, and if they convene in a classroom setting with an instructor, toward the California Department of Insurance claims adjuster and medical bill reviewer certification requirements. Upon request, CWCI will issue certificates to each individual who enrolled. Tuition is $150 per webinar, or $250 for both, with discounts available for employees of CWCI member companies. For those who are unable to participate on October 13, the Institute may offer the programs as on-demand webinars in the future. For details or to register, visit the Institute’s website at www.cwci.org.