The US Department of Labor on October 5th released a report entitled “Does the Workers’ Compensation System Fulfill Its Obligations to Injured Workers?”. The release of the report was accompanied by statements from the Secretary of Labor, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, and the US DOL Assistant Secretary for OSHA. The report may be [...]
On September 28, 2016, The US Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to provide appropriation authority so that the federal government could pay its bills after September 30th. The President is expected to sign the CR. The legislation includes a number of permanent provisions including a provision that prohibits the Veterans Administration from paying for medical [...]
Bipartisan leaders of the House Energy and Commerce and House Ways and Means Committees today introduced H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, to permanently replace Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). The agreement builds upon H.R. 1470, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to replace the SGR formula [...]
By a vote of 93-4 with 3 not voting the Senate this afternoon passed HR 26, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Authorization Act of 2015. The bill received expedited consideration in the House and in the Senate and is expected to be signed by the President. The most recent version of the text available on line [...]
By an overwhelming vote of 404 -17 the House of Representatives yesterday passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (HR 647). The bill has as its primary purposes (1) to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence, and quality of [...]
In a web site release on September 22nd CMS announced plans to provide for a portal system procedure to provide valuation of prescription drugs for purposes of WCMSAs. The policy may be accessed at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coordination-of-Benefits-and-Recovery/Workers-Compensation-Medicare-Set-Aside-Arrangements/Whats-New/Downloads/Upcoming-Enhancement-WCMSAP-for-PD-Information.pdf As of October 6, 2014, portal users will be able to enter information on the new Prescription Drugs page for any [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in an alert posted to its web site on September 10th released new policy effective January 5, 2015 that provides increased flexibility to employers and WC plan administrators to submit Section 111 reports to CMS. The alert responds to Section 204 of the Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers [...]
The US Senate today passed legislation to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote of 93 -4 with 3 not voting. The bill, S 2244, may be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113s2244rs/pdf/BILLS-113s2244rs.pdf. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 to extend the Terrorism Insurance [...]
In addition to issues related to access to workers’ compensation information by SSA, FECA Reform, and increased DBA monitoring, that I noted in my e-mail on March 7th, the budget also includes funding for an extension of TRIA in some form and increased monitoring of misclassification of workers for workers’ compensation. See the budget language below. [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 27, 2013 published proposed rules with respect to the Right of Appeal for Medicare Secondary Payer Determination Relating to Liability Insurance (including Self-Insurance), No Fault Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Laws and Plans. The proposed rules may be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-12-27/pdf/2013-30661.pdf#! and provide for comments to be [...]