Massachusetts: Department cancels missed appointment fees

The Department of Industrial Accidents will no longer impose a missed appointment fee for impartial workers' compensation medical examinations that are canceled more than 48 hours in advance of the scheduled date.

Circular Letter No. 334 states that when an administrative judge or the judge's administrative assistant receives notice of the cancellation more than 48 hours in advance, that the department will reschedule the examination without charging a missed appointment fee. However, those who fail to cancel within the 48-hour window may not reschedule the missed appointment until the impartial medical unit manager receives the $100 missed appointment penalty. If the appointment is canceled less than 48 hours before the examination due to an unavoidable emergency, the injured worker may contact the unit manager to apply for a waiver of the fee. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/pageID=elwdmodulechunk&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions+(EOLWD)&L3=Department+of+Industrial+Accidents&sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dia_circular_letter_cl_334&csid=Elwd.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

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July 29, 2010

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