Broad Approval of Workers’ Compensation MSA Submissions Helps With Backlog, Allsup Reports

Dec. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently approved a large batch of outstanding Medicare Set-aside Arrangement (http://www.allsupinc.com/msa) (MSA) submissions, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance and Social Security disability services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers.

The number of workers' compensation MSAs submitted to the Workers' Compensation Review Contractor (WCRC) have increased, and the average review process has grown by six to nine months. These delays had created uncertainty for employers, workers' compensation carriers and injured workers regarding the coordination of their workers' compensation settlements and Medicare benefits, adding to the complexity of the settlement process.

Allsup has been informed CMS is using a streamlined review process to clear the backlog as much as possible. Allsup commends the agency on taking action to rectify what CMS termed a backlog of MSAs for review.

"The backlog in MSA submissions for review has been a challenge for employers, workers' compensation carriers and injured workers, resulting in long delays to conclude their settlements," said Rob Sokol, director of Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance at Allsup. "This step by CMS seems to allow the new review contractor to continue processing new submissions in 30-45 days as they have been since taking over, allowing the existing backlog to be dealt with under this streamlined process."

"Improved turnaround times are good for Medicare beneficiaries, the industry as a whole, and Medicare," Sokol said. "Clarity, consistency and timeliness should continue to be addressed to avoid review backlogs in the future."

According to CMS, official Approval Letters regarding the approved MSAs have been mailed and should be received in about 10 days, otherwise, copies will be available on the MSA portal (https://www.cob.cms.hhs.gov/WCMSA/) on or around Dec. 21, 2012.

Allsup offers Medicare Set-aside Arrangement (MSA), Conditional Payment and Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting services to the workers' compensation and liability industries to assist in compliance with Medicare Secondary Payer guidelines.

Allsup audits claims, analyzes future medical expenses, quantifies allocation amounts, prepares written proposals, resolves Medicare conditional payments, establishes an ongoing management process for clients, provides comprehensive tracking reports and coordinates compliance with MSP regulations. Allsup's most recent Client Satisfaction Survey found 92 percent of client supervisors and examiners had or would recommend Allsup to a colleague.

Contact Allsup at (866) 477-7005 or msaservices@allsupinc.com for more detailed information about how to incorporate Allsup's MSP Compliance services into an existing claims management process.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, go to http://www.Allsup.com or visit Allsup on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc

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