The Reed Smith Life Sciences Health Industry Group will be hosting a free CLE webinar, “Medicare Secondary Payer: Issues and Best Practices for the Defense,” on July 13, 2016 at 12 p.m. ET. Reed Smith presenters Eric Gladbach and Mildred Segura will be providing an overview and timeline of Medicare Secondary Payer reporting responsibilities; discussing … Continue Reading
A recent case out of a district court in Michigan suggests medical providers may have a new method to obtain payment for bills that were denied by an insurance company - Medicare Secondary Payer Act's (MSP) private enforcement provision. Mich. Spine & Brain Surgeons, PLLC v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., No. 12cv11329, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17721, *1 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 11, 2013).
In Michigan Spine, an insured covered by Medicare and State Farm automobile insurance was involved in a severe car accident. Id. at *2. Following the accident, the insured underwent extensive neurosurgery performed by Michigan Spine and Brain Surgeons, PLLC ("Michigan Spine"). Id. at *5. Michigan Spine submitted its charges to State Farm, but Sate Farm refused to cover the individual claiming that her injuries were from preexisting conditions and unrelated to the car accident. Id. at *5-*6. The insured then submitted her claim to Medicare which made a partial payment to Michigan Spine. Id. at *6.… Continue Reading
There seems to be growing awareness that engaging in a "business, trade, or profession," can easily subject any person or entity to what is known as the Medicare secondary payer ("MSP") law--a series of provisions in Title XVIII the Social Security Act, governing the hierarchy of who pays first among applicable insurers. Given its scope and complexity, understanding and complying with the MSP law can be overwhelming. Further, although failure to comply carries obvious risk, conforming to what the law requires may also trigger certain risks of its own.… Continue Reading
President Obama recently signed the Medicare IVIG Access and Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers Act (commonly referred to as the SMART Act) to alleviate some of the confusion surrounding the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (MSP), which allows Medicare to seek reimbursement, and potential penalties, from "responsible" parties. These "responsible" parties include tort defendants, such as drug and medical device manufacturers, who become primary payers once they settle or have a judgment awarded against them in a case involving a Medicare beneficiary. The SMART Act will, among other things, introduce a three-year statute of limitations for which the government may bring an action for reimbursement and create a minimum settlement/judgment threshold below which the government will not seek reimbursement.… Continue Reading
