Impact of fee schedules and approved doctor's list on physician availability in the Texas Workers' Compensation Program
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the changes in physician provider workforce, before and after two regulatory changes were implemented by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (TWCC) in August and September of 2003: Fee schedules and the Approved Doctor's List (ADL). The number and type of physicians who participated in the program after the changes went into effect were measured and compared to projections based on natural attrition. In addition, interviews with key stakeholders were conducted regarding the program changes. Collectively, this evidence suggests that physician response followed the same patterns as shown in previous research. The number of physicians who continued to participate and bill the Texas workers' compensation program decreased significantly as a result of the regulatory changes. The consequences of these changes on access and quality of care need to be documented with empirical research. The availability of physicians in the workforce is linked to access to care. The type and location of physicians who remained in the system also have impact on quality and access to care.
Subject Area
Public health|Health care
Recommended Citation
Peck, Kay E, "Impact of fee schedules and approved doctor's list on physician availability in the Texas Workers' Compensation Program" (2008). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI3297629.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI3297629