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CMS-1500 Payers

Workers' Compensation Resources for Claims Administrators

In order to increase health care provider participation in the workers' compensation system and improve injured workers' access to timely, quality medical care, the Workers' Compensation Board (Board) made a strategic decision to transition toward making the CMS-1500 a required form.

Providers have indicated that the unique paperwork requirements currently in the workers' compensation system are time consuming to complete. To reduce the administrative burden and increase provider participation, the Board will consolidate and eliminate certain medical billing forms and convert to the CMS-1500, the universal claim form used by medical providers to bill the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as health insurers.

The initiative will leverage providers' current medical billing software and medical records while promoting a more efficient workers' compensation system.

The Board replaced the following forms with the CMS-1500:

The CMS-1500 must be submitted with a detailed narrative report to be considered a valid submission The Board has developed a template that providers can use to create the medical narrative report that accompanies provider submissions of the CMS-1500. A sample of the template can be found on the CMS-1500 Requirements page.

CMS-1500 Submission Process

When CMS-1500 forms are submitted to the Board using the electronic submission process, providers SHOULD NOT mail, fax or email a duplicate paper form to the Board.

The electronic process, prescribed by the Chair, requires payers to partner with at least one Board-approved electronic submission partner to transmit and accept health care provider medical bills via Electronic Data Exchange (EDI), or another format agreed upon with the electronic submission partner.

Payers must designate with the Board the electronic submission partner(s) from whom they accept medical bills. The payers' Medical Portal Online Administrators must keep electronic submission partner information accurate and update the online administrator application with any changes within three (3) business days. Detailed instructions on updating electronic submission partner designations can be found on the Designating an Electronic Submission Partner page.

A list of approved electronic submission partners for the CMS-1500 is posted on the CMS-1500 Electronic Forms Submission section of the Board's website and is updated after each entity successfully completes testing and executes an Electronic Submission Partner Agreement with the Board.

Please contact the WCB Online Services Technical Support Unit if you have technical questions regarding adding an electronic submission partner.

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