BWC's Virtual Provider Forum is at full capacity
Thanks to overwhelming interest, our May 8 Virtual Provider Forum is officially at full capacity — and we’re excited to welcome everyone who registered!
This virtual event will feature BWC’s Pete Mihaly, J.D., MHA, Director of Enterprise Legal Services, and Alex Leuchtag, J.D., Staff Attorney, Hearing Services, who will cover key legal topics in Ohio workers’ compensation, including:
- Miller Criteria
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Ohio Industrial Commission (IC) hearing process
- Video of an IC hearing
This activity has been awarded: 1.0 Nursing contact hour and 0.1 IACET CEU. To earn continuing education credit, you must attend at least 90% of the session (including Q&A) and complete a short evaluation.
- The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
- The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has been accredited as an IACET Accredited Provider. For tracking purposes, 60 minutes of education content is awarded 0.1 CEU.
Didn’t get a chance to register?
No problem — a full recording will be posted soon. Be sure to check our Provider Webinar page to catch up on what you missed and stay connected with BWC for updates on future sessions.
Questions?
Contact our Regional Directors of Provider Engagement:
Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting Ohio’s injured workers!
 MCO open enrollment is now live
Employer Choice of Managed Care Organization (MCO) Open Enrollment opened April 28 and runs through May 23. We offer open enrollment every two years for employers to select from a network of MCOs that manage claim filings and medical care that injured workers need to recover and return to work.
No action is required of employers who are satisfied with their current MCO. Those considering a change can find details in our MCO Selection Guide (PDF) and our MCO Report Card (PDF), an objective source of information that summarizes each MCO’s performance.
Employers’ new MCOs will begin to manage the medical portion of their claims June 30, 2025. Continuity of medical care and uninterrupted service to injured workers are of paramount importance.
After June 30, check MCO coverage through your OHID portal for injured workers whose employers changed MCOs for submission of bills, adjustments, or void requests; submission of C-9 treatment authorization requests or requests for additional allowances; or ADR requests.
 Fee schedule updates
BWC’s Board of Directors recently approved fee schedule updates to the Hospital Outpatient Fee Schedule rule and the Ambulatory Surgery Center Fee Schedule rule, both effective May 1, 2025. The Hospital Outpatient Fee Schedule will adopt the 2025 Medicare outpatient services rule update. The Ambulatory Surgery Center Fee Schedule will adopt the 2025 Medicare payment updates.
Learn more about our 2025 fee schedules.
The Power of Nurses™ — National Nurses Week, May 6 -12
This week, we honor the nation’s largest health-care profession — nurses — during National Nurses Week, sponsored by the American Nurses Association.
The nurses of BWC-certified managed care organizations provide critical case management and utilization reviews to ensure Ohio’s injured workers receive high-quality, appropriate care. Working alongside providers, nurses support recovery in nearly every health-care setting — from hospitals to homes.
BWC has 51 nurses who offer multifaceted expertise and services supporting catastrophic injuries, claims, disability management, education, investigations, legal, policy, pharmacy, and rehabilitation.
Thank you to The Power of Nurses™.
 Outpatient formulary coverage criteria reminders
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Anticoagulants: Medications such as Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Eliquis (apixaban), Savaysa (edoxaban), and Pradaxa (dabigatran) require prior authorization after 30 days of use.
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ADHD Agents/Psychostimulants: Drugs like Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate), and modafinil are eligible for reimbursement only with a prior authorization submission. In addition, the claim must include an allowed condition(s) related to post-concussion syndrome or concussion, as defined in Ohio Administrative Code 4123-6-34.
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Antipsychotics: These medications may be reimbursed for claims with allowed conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Prior authorization requests must include documentation of Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) testing, which is required at the initial prescription and every six months for ongoing use. The only medications approved for augmentation of antidepressant therapy in treating major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder are aripiprazole, olanzapine (with fluoxetine), and quetiapine XR.
Provider enrollment updates
Our provider enrollment team is working to streamline processes and reduce processing times. Below are essential updates we’d like to share with you.
Revised form: Request to Change Provider Information (MEDCO-12)
We redesigned the Request to Change Provider Information (MEDCO-12) to allow multiple record updates within a single submission. This improvement helps make updates faster and more efficient.
While the most effective way to update provider records is still through your online account, you may also use the updated MEDCO-12. The revised version can now be completed and submitted online and includes a date- and time-stamped electronic signature option for the individual provider or the authorized business representative. Please note: The provider must sign individual reimbursement address changes.
If preferred, the form may still be printed and submitted as detailed in the form’s instructions.
Important: We will no longer accept previous versions of the MEDCO-12 form after June 15, 2025. You can access the new form on our Forms and publications page.
Group/business practice consolidations
Group or business practices (Provider Type 12) currently enrolled under multiple records with the same Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN) and National Provider Identifier (NPI) will soon receive a letter about consolidation.
Please complete a new Non-Certification Application (MEDCO-13A) with up-to-date information. This will allow us to merge multiple records into one active enrollment record that reflects all practice locations.
Currently, new group/business practice enrollments follow this single-record model. A consolidated record lets you update practice and business location addresses through your online account.
What to expect at Medical & Health Symposium
BWC’s virtual Medical & Health Symposium returns Sept. 17-19. This year’s event focuses on navigating health challenges in a changing environment and features groundbreaking medical advancements and expert-led panel discussions.
Innovative sessions
- Artificial intelligence (AI) in practice & in medical evidence
- Concussion and innovative approaches to care
- Technology in orthopedics and neuroscience
- Robotics and wearables software to quantify and qualify treatment
- Barriers to recovery and return-to-work
- Hand surgery
- Healthcare transformation, innovation and health disparity improvement
Free continuing education
We are applying for continuing education credit for over 25 different types of health-care and legal professionals.
Cutting-edge solutions to your most pressing problems
Explore a diverse range, of cutting-edge vendors showcasing the latest advancements in medical technology and health-care solutions. Discover state-of-the-art products and services.
Mark your calendars and save the date! Registration opens June 1.
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