(1) The department or self-insurer will reimburse for certain proper and necessary miscellaneous services and items needed as a result of an industrial accident. Nursing care, attendant services, transportation, hearing aids, eyeglasses, orthotics and prosthetics, braces, medical supplies, oxygen systems, walking aids, and durable medical equipment are included in this classification.

(a) When a fee maximum has been established, the rate of reimbursement for miscellaneous services and items will be the supplier's usual and customary charge or the department's current fee maximum, whichever is less. In no case may a supplier or provider charge a worker the difference between the fee maximum and their usual and customary charge.

(b) When the department or self-insurer has established a purchasing contract with a qualified supplier through an open competitive request for proposal process, the department or self-insurer will require that workers obtain specific groups of items from the contractor. When items are obtained from a contractor, the contractor will be paid at the rates established in the contract. When a purchasing contract for a selected group of items exists, suppliers who are not named in the contract will be denied reimbursement if they provide a contracted item to a worker. The noncontracting supplier, not the worker, will be financially responsible for providing an item to a worker when it should have been supplied by a contractor. This rule may be waived by an authorized representative of the department or self-insurer in special cases where a worker's attending doctor recommends that an item be obtained from another source for medical reasons or reasons of availability. In such cases, the department may authorize reimbursement to a supplier who is not named in a contract. Items or services may be provided on an emergency basis without prior authorization, but will be reviewed for appropriateness to the accepted industrial condition and medical necessity on a retrospective basis.

(2) The department or self-insurer will inform providers and suppliers of the selected groups of items for which purchasing contracts have been established, including the beginning and ending dates of the contracts.

(3) Prior authorization by an authorized representative of the department or self-insurer will be required for reimbursement of selected items and services which are provided to workers. Payment will be denied for selected items or services supplied without prior authorization. The supplier, not the worker, will be financially responsible for providing selected items or services to workers without prior authorization. In cases where a worker's doctor recommends rental or purchase of a contracted item from a supplier who lacks a contract agreement, prior authorization will be required.

The decision to grant or deny prior authorization for reimbursement of selected services or items will be based on the following criteria:

(a) The worker is eligible for coverage.

(b) The service or item prescribed is appropriate and medically necessary for treatment of the worker's accepted industrial condition.

(4) The decision to rent or purchase an item will be made based on a comparison of the projected rental costs of the item with its purchase price. An authorized representative of the department or self-insurer will decide whether to rent or purchase certain items provided they are appropriate and medically necessary for treatment of the worker's accepted condition. Decisions to rent or purchase items will be based on the following information:

(a) Purchase price of the item.

(b) Monthly rental fee.

(c) The prescribing doctor's estimate of how long the item will be needed.

(5) The department will review the medical necessity, appropriateness, and quality of items and services provided to workers.

(6) The department's statement for miscellaneous services form or electronic transfer format specifications must be used for billing the department for miscellaneous services, equipment, supplies, appliances, and transportation. Bills must be itemized according to instructions in WAC 296-20-125 and the department or self-insurer's billing instructions. Bills for medical appliances and equipment must include the type of item, manufacturer name, model name and number, and serial number.

(7) All miscellaneous materials, supplies and services must be billed using the appropriate HCPCS Level II codes and billing modifiers. HCPCS codes are listed in the fee schedules.