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