Complying with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act When a Client has Public Benefits
For clients with public benefits, closing out their case is not as simple as issuing a check for their net recovery.
Category: Medicare Compliance
Is it Workers’ Compensation or Liability?
Attorneys settling cases involving work-related injuries may find themselves similarly perplexed when it comes to whether a work-related injury will be treated as a workers’ compensation or liability case for purposes of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (“MSP”).
Navigating the Shifting Landscape of MSP Compliance
The wait for proposed rulemaking related to Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance obligations regarding future medical services in liability settlements continues. Although the Department of Health and Human Services issued their initial notification of proposed rulemaking in the fall of 2018, the target date has been moved several times and is currently set for October of 2021. However, focusing solely on the notice of proposed rules will cause a practitioner to overlook the impact of important MSP compliance changes taking place with Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting obligations on settlements.
Primary Payer Status Shifts from Liability Carrier to Plaintiff Post-Settlement
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F In Penelope Stillwell v State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., et al. case (2021 WL 4427081), a plaintiff attempts to impose primary payer status on a liability insurer post-settlement via a qui tam action in federal district court. The U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division addressed in […]
Beware of “Conscious Ignorance” Exception to Mutual Mistake Challenge to a Contract
September 9, 2021 Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F The American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct provide a blueprint for attorneys to follow when representing clients. The first Rule and arguably one of the most important ones, outlines a basic expectation in the client-lawyer relationship. Rule 1.1 states: “A lawyer shall provide competent representation […]
Synergy’s Workers’ Compensation Medicare Secondary Payer Advice Column
July 28, 2021 Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F Introducing “Since You Asked,” Synergy’s first in a series of columns addressing MSP compliance questions in the area of workers’ compensation. Question: “My client is settling her case and does not know what to do with her Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) funds. I’m not quite sure […]
Medicare Compliance – How to be TOTALLY Medicare Compliant
Jason D. Lazarus, J.D., LL.M., MSCC, CSSC So, what do lawyers assisting Medicare beneficiaries do given all of the issues surrounding representing Medicare beneficiaries? To learn more, download the White Paper below: [hubspot type=form portal=7609853 id=3a31fe03-41bd-4455-a882-0b33d31ec2d0]
Exploring Options for Conditional Payment Resolution
July 8, 2021 Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F Most attorneys are well aware of the need to resolve Medicare’s conditional payments in connection with a client’s settlement. This obligation stems from the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395y(b)(2)(A)(ii), which prohibits Medicare from making payment for medical services when “payment has been made […]
Lawyers Assisting Medicare Beneficiaries, Heed These Words of Warning
Medicare is complex, to say the least. Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D all cover distinct but overlapping services. Meanwhile, Medicare eligibility is connected to Social Security Disability Income, and the Medicare Secondary Payer Act is a series of statutory provisions that would make even the most detail-oriented person’s head spin.