CMS Changes Helping WC Settlements

With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) eliminating its one-year waiting period for Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement (WCMSA) Amended Review requests and changes to review of WCMSA’s with zero allocations, lawyers at Goldberg Segalla see the changes as potentially reducing delays and costs, and potentially facilitating WC settlement.
Beginning April 7, CMS will eliminate its one-year waiting period for WCMSA Amended Review requests, while as of July 17, it will no longer accept, nor review, WCMSAs with zero allocations.
In a Jan. 27 blog post, Goldberg Segalla suggests that if an approved Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement can be reduced, interested parties should not wait to resubmit it.
“Gather your evidence and do so right away,” they advise, adding that “Controverted claims can now be settled confidently with a $0 MSA, but only where the claim is denied with no payments made.”
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The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) has slated a free webinar today at 10 a.m. ET covering staff research on the growing correlation between extreme temperatures and workplace injuries.
Experts from PCRB’s Actuarial Team are presenting the findings in their “Impact of Excess Heat on Workplace Injuries” research brief, which highlights the correlation between high temperatures and workplace injuries, particularly in outdoor industries like construction.
Participants will learn how temperature fluctuations influence claims trends, which industries are most affected, and which strategies can boost workplace safety.
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The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards said this week that its On-Site Safety Consultation Program has helped employers across the state avoid over $18.5 million in workplace injury costs.
The savings from the federal OSHA-funded program come from reducing expenses like medical bills, workers’ compensation premiums, and the hidden costs of workplace injuries—such as hiring and training replacements, managing administrative tasks, and dealing with lost productivity, DLS said.
After an employer requests a consultation, a consultant visits the worksite to evaluate potential hazards, work practices, and the employer’s safety program. At the end of the visit, the consultant provides recommendations to address hazards and improve overall safety measures.
Its no-cost services are targeted at small and medium-sized employers in both the public and private sectors.
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