Wrongful Death Cases: Can Medicare Still Have its Superlien?

We received this question directly from a plaintiff last week (who also happens to be a practicing attorney): Can Medicare claim its reimbursement right where the case is only a Wrongful Death action? Answer: Maybe. Three Medicare cases help us get to the analysis. First there was Bradley v. Sebelius (621 F.3d 1330, 11th Cir.…

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Finding Hidden Coverage: The PAID Act

Did you know that Medicare has data on its beneficiaries’ Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplemental Plans, Medicare Part D Drug Plans, and even Medicaid coverage? Currently, CMS does not provide that additional coverage information to either plaintiffs (and their attorneys) or defendants in the Non-Group Health Plan realm. The Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (“MARC”) is…

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CMS Update on Regional Office Move

Update from CMS: The Philadelphia Regional Office is Moving Keeping you up to date on all things CMS! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the Philadelphia, PA Regional Office is moving. The new contact information is below: 801 Market Street Suite 9400 Philadelphia PA 19107-3132 215-861-4178 If you need assistance…

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Medicare Numbers Transition: Begins April 1

Medicare is finally transitioning its beneficiary ID numbers (known as Health Insurance Claim Numbers, or, HICNs) beginning April 1, 2018. This change is required by a 2015 law, and Medicare first announced this transition nearly a year ago on May 31, 2017. See our previous blog post on this topic by clicking here. How will the…

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Medicare Reporting Guidelines – 2018 Update

CMS has released its annual SMART Act report to Congress. The report includes the usual updates you’d expect, namely, cost of recovery data and reporting thresholds. Reporting Thresholds First, CMS has updated 2018 Mandatory Insurer Reporting and plaintiff-settlement reporting thresholds. Any settlement below these amounts needs not be reported by defendants (or, “primary payers”) and…

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Medicare & The Upside Down (Case)

Sometimes we refer to a case where fees and costs exceed settlement as “upside down.” An Indianapolis firm asked us: can a Medicare Plan (meaning Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplemental Plan) claim a lien in the upside down world? No. Medicare Advantage Plan liens claim their rights exist from the same laws that allow Medicare…

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CRC Transition Begins Today (February 7, 2018)

Please remember Medicare liens for what it considers No-Fault and Workers’ Compensation files may not change for a few days. Performant Recovery, Inc. officially takes over tomorrow, February 8, 2018; however, CGI is handing off all data beginning today, February 7, 2018. All CRC files will re-start processing (mail, faxes, etc.) on Monday, February 12, 2018.…

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CRC Transition Days – February 7 – 9, 2018

As we’ve previously discussed, Medicare’s CRC contractor is changing from CGI to Performant Recovery, Inc. on February 8, 2018. The CRC is having three days of what it is calling it’s, “Dark Days” from February 7 thru 9, 2018. What does this mean? Medicare No-Fault and Workers’ Compensation files will be accessible, but, no additional…

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New CMS Contractor Coming February 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that a new Commercial Repayment Center (CRC) Contractor, Performant Recovery, Inc. will take over CRC duties on February 8, 2018. Performant will assume responsibility for conditional payment recoveries from no-fault insurers and workers’ compensation entities. CMS will be presenting webinars on the transition on January…

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Join Massive for a Lien Resolution CLE Presentation

Ahmad Zeki, Director of Business Development at Massive, will be presenting to the Inland Counties Association of Paralegals on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The topic is ‘Lien Resolution and Future Medicals: The Ever-changing World of Liens & Future Medicals and How to Deal with Them.’ Dealing with lien claims management is frustrating and tedious. Each lien requires…

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