Recent CMS Query Issue with Partial SSNs

• 06/02/15
• Heather Schwartz Sanderson

In November 2014, pursuant to the SMART Act, CMS implemented a process where Responsible Reporting Entities (RREs) could use a partial SSN (last 5 digits) where the RRE was unable to obtain the ...
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Perfect Access to Perfect Information

• 05/27/15
• Judge David Langham

What if we could have instant access to perfect information?  Access is not a problem limited to information. If a manufacturer had perfect information about the demand for its product, that would ...
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State Appellate Court Reinstates Plaintiff’s MSP Private Cause of Action Against No-Fault Insurer– “Demonstrated Responsibility” can be Established Without a Settlement, Judgment, or Award based on Insurance Contract

• 05/22/15
• Heather Schwartz Sanderson

I recently posted a blogwire article regarding CMS' May 5th webinar wherein CMS expressed their intent to recover conditional payments in Ongoing Responsibility for Medical (ORM) cases. This ...
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Salim Ismail and a Lifechanging Seminar in Orlando

• 05/18/15
• Judge David Langham

In the midst of one of their early conversations, Luke Skywalker reassures Yoda of his bravery, saying "I'm not afraid." Yoda replies knowingly "oh, you will be. You will be." Perhaps we all need to ...
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California WC Statute Helpful to Reduce WCMSA Allocations

• 05/15/15
• Heather Schwartz Sanderson

SB 863 launched Independent Medical Review (IMR) for California Workers' Compensation claims.  This important shift in how medical treatment is managed in a workers' compensation claim would ...
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How much workers' compensation coverage do I have… really?

• 05/14/15
• Terry Bogyo

Take five minutes and consider this question:  “If I got hurt at work today and was off work (for a week or year), how much of my financial loss would be covered by workers' ...
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CMS Hosts Webinar on Applicable Plan Appeals; Announces Plans to Collect Conditional Payments in ORM Situations

• 05/06/15
• Heather Schwartz Sanderson

Yesterday, CMS held a webinar on the applicable plans newly created right of appeal that went into effect on April 28, 2015. Because of the Strengthening and Repaying Taxpayers (SMART) Act, CMS was required ...
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Pennsylvania District Court Case Demonstrates the Importance of Addressing Medicare Secondary Payer Issues Early in Settlement Process

• 04/26/15
• Heather Schwartz Sanderson

In an opinion out of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Villare v. GEICO Casualty Company, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36488, what would have been a finalized settlement ...
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What can we take from the ProPublica/NPR investigative reports on Workers' Compensation?

• 04/21/15
• Terry Bogyo

The ProPublica/NPR investigative reports have highlighted what is wrong with workers' compensation.  Make no mistake; there is much to criticize among the US and Canadian workers' compensation ...
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