Handling Medicare Issues for Workers' Comp and Personal Injury Clients
In the process of settling a workers' compensation or personal injury claim in which the settlement is intended to cover future medical expenses, it is often necessary to create a Medicare set-aside (MSA) arrangement or otherwise demonstrate that Medicare's interests have been protected in order to comply with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. Just as important, but often overlooked, is the need to investigate, negotiate, and resolve Medicare conditional payments.
At the law firm of Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, SC, our experienced Eau Claire attorneys assist clients with Medicare Secondary Payer Act compliance. Unlike many workers' compensation and personal injury firms, we negotiate conditional payments and submit MSA proposals in-house, simplifying the settlement process.
Attorney Melissa A. Kirschner is a member of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals (NAMSAP), a non-profit association addressing the issues and challenges of the Medicare Secondary Payer Act statute and its impact on workers' compensation and liability settlements.
Ms. Kirschner is also Medicare set-aside consultant certified (MSCC), a credential designated by the International Commission on Health Care Certification, designed to identify those professionals who work within the workers' compensation or liability insurance benefit system who have achieved specific pre-approved training in Medicare set-aside arrangements and have demonstrated a breadth of knowledge regarding the development and application of the Medicare set-aside arrangement process.
Understanding When Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements Are Necessary
Not every workers' comp or personal injury settlement requires an MSA. Our attorneys stay informed about all of the regulations and guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to advise our clients on when MSA arrangements are necessary or recommended.
The ultimate goal of an MSA is to ensure that settlement funds that are intended to cover future medical expenses are actually used for that purpose before Medicare is billed.
CMS has specific thresholds for the types of settlements it will review for compliance and the types of MSA proposals that will be accepted by the agency. Our lawyers have extensive experience guiding clients toward appropriate Medicare solutions for specific circumstances. In addition, our attorneys offer innovative strategies for dealing with settlement of claims that do not meet the current CMS review thresholds.
Contact Our Northwestern Wisconsin Medicare Set-Aside Attorneys
If you need assistance resolving a workers' compensation or personal injury claim, you can retain our firm with confidence that we will be able to handle any Medicare Secondary Payer Act compliance issues that arise. Please contact us to discuss your case with our attorneys.
