Workers' Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA)

10/10/2019 - 3 min read

CMS releases WCMSA Portal User Guide Version 5.9

On 10/7/19, CMS released the latest edition of its Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Portal User Guide (WCMSAP) (Version 5.9).

8/1/2019 - 3 min read

WCMSA RX update – FDA approves first generics of Lyrica

On 7/22/19, the FDA announced it approved the first generics of Lyrica. This comes at a critical time as CMS has increasingly been including Lyrica in WCMSAs

2/25/2019 - 1 min read

CMS to mask health insurance claim number and social security number on contractor correspondence starting April 2019

Starting 4/1/19, CMS’s Coordination of Benefits and Recovery Program program will mask the social security number (SSN) and SSN-portion of the health insurance claim number on all ongoing letters.

8/14/2018 - 6 min read

Drug formularies continue to expand in workers’ comp systems

Balancing rising medical and pharmaceutical costs with appropriate and timely treatment for injured workers has been an ongoing struggle for workers’ compensation professionals. But recent trends indicate a positive change for the industry.

6/29/2018 - 2 min read

Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set Aside Legislation Filed, Referred to Committee

On June 18, 2018, Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation aimed at reforming the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) process.

5/22/2018 - 5 min read

Arizona tweaks its "full & final" workers' comp settlement law - New law provides opportunities to settle workers' comp claims

Arizona Senate Bill 1100 provides unprecedented opportunities to settle workers' compensation claims in the state.

5/9/2018 - 6 min read

Five steps to reduce your WCMSA costs

It is no secret that high Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set Aside (WCMSA) allocation amounts can complicate claim settlement.

2/28/2018 - 7 min read

Medicare watch list: Staying ahead of the Medicare Secondary Payer compliance curve

As another new year settles in, we know at least one thing is certain: MSP compliance will continue to present formidable challenges for claims payers.

11/20/2017 - 4 min read

The CMS WCMSA "Amended Review process" - New opportunity to reduce WCMSA allocations and settle claims

For years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has refused to consider medical evidence postdating the original submission date of a Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) proposal.

9/26/2017 - 6 min read

Countdown to “full and final” settlements: Arizona S.B. 1332

The recent passage of Arizona Senate Bill (S.B.) 1332 provides Arizona claims payers with unprecedented opportunity to close out their workers' comp claims.

8/1/2017 - 2 min read

Amended review and other takeaways from the latest WCMSA reference guide

On July 31st 2017, CMS released its most recent version of the Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Reference Guide—and there’s a lot to digest.

4/13/2017 - 3 min read

Arkansas passes bill affecting future medical benefit settlements for Medicare beneficiaries

The Arkansas Legislature quickly moved a relatively unknown bill addressing workers’ comp settlements in the final days of its 2017 legislative session.

3/20/2017 - 8 min read

2017 Medicare watch list

It’s clear there will be no shortage of Medicare Secondary Payer developments to keep an eye on this year. Here’s an outline of MSP events to watch in 2017.

3/20/2017 - 5 min read

Liability MSAs: What we know and what to expect

The dust is still swirling around the Liability Medicare Set-Aside (LMSA) issue, but a few areas clearly show Medicare’s plan and intended next steps.

3/8/2017 - 5 min read

New development hints at future MSA expansion to liability: CMS updates Common Working File for LMSAs and NFMSAs

CMS has issued a Change Request (CR-9893) to update it's Common Working File regarding both Liability and No-Fault Medicare Set-Aside arrangements.