July 2011
CMS Awards New Workers' Compensation Review Contractor; Delayed By Bid Protest
Effective 07/01/2011, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have awarded a new Workers Compensation Review Contractor (WCRC) to Provider Resources, Inc. of Erie, Pennsylvania. The (WCRC) is the only national reviewer of Workers Compensation Medicare Set Aside (WCMSA) proposals in the country for CMS. In related news, one of the unsuccessful bidders (Data and Analytics Solutions) has filed a bid protest for the award of the WCRC contract on 7/5/11. Reportedly, the current contractor, Lifecare Management Partners, will continue to process claims for the next three months during the appeal process. Please click on the related link below for more information. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updated information in future newsletters.
A New Medicare Set Aside Portal (WCMSAP) Being Developed by CMS
On July 8, 2011, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they are moving forward with the development of the Workers Compensation Medicare Set Aside Portal (WCMSAP) on their website. This new Section page is being added to the Workers Compensation Agency Services web page, where information related to the WCMSAP will be posted.
Review of the Rights and Responsibilities Letter and the Demand Letters Is Complete
As you may have heard from Medicare, review of the Rights and Responsibilities letter ("RAR") and the Demand Letters for Liability Insurance (including Self-Insurance), No-fault Insurance and Workers' Compensation is complete. Issuance of the Rights and Responsibilities Letter resumed on June 10, 2011 and issuance of the Demand Letters resumed on June 27, 2011. Should any further changes occur, we will be sure to advise everyone as we continue to monitor and work to keep cases moving along with the Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Contractor (MSPRC).
MMSEA Section 111 – June 29, 2011 – Town Hall Teleconference
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held its latest MMSEA Section 111 Town Hall Teleconference on June 29, 2011. Some important highlights include CMS confirming upcoming dates for the mandatory reporting of Liability TPOC claims (First Quarter of 2012 for Liability TPOC's arising on or after October 1, 2011), along with advising that the newest edition of the MMSEA Section 111 User Guide will likely be available by August 1, 2011.