What does medical costs management involve?

Medical costs management in the context of workers' compensation involves a comprehensive evaluation of medical services related to a claim to ensure they are necessary and align with established fee schedules. This process includes assessing the appropriateness of proposed treatments and services against industry standards and guidelines.

By focusing on reviewing, approving, or disputing medical services, medical costs management aims to control expenses while ensuring that injured workers receive appropriate care. This aspect of cost management is critical in maintaining the overall financial health of the workers' compensation system, ensuring that all parties are treated fairly while adhering to regulatory requirements and best practices.

The other options, while relevant to the overall workers' compensation process, do not encapsulate the primary focus of medical costs management as distinctly as the chosen answer. Reviewing and approving future medical treatments is a component of the larger picture but doesn’t cover disputing services or evaluating fee schedules. Managing claim disputes involves addressing disagreements about claim outcomes rather than directly managing medical costs. Likewise, handling wage replacement benefits relates to lost income due to injury rather than the direct management of medical expenses.