Medicare Set-Aside UPDATE

By: Steven Babitsky, Esq.

One of the hottest and most challenging issue facing employers, insurers, self-insurers and workers’ compensation professionals is the settlement of claims and the issue of Medicare set-asides. The Medicare set-aside is a method that can be used in a workers’ compensation settlement to avoid making Medicare the primary payer. Due to a lack of rulemaking by HHS the issue remains a minefield for all practitioners.

Attorney Jim Pocius, Esq. of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Comelan & Goggin has been a leader in the Medicare set-aside field. Jim is the chair of the Medicare Set-Aside Practice Group. He acts as national Medicare counsel for several clients and has obtained more than 1,000 Medicare set-aside approvals. Most of Jim’s practice concerns Medicare issues in both liability and workers’ compensation cases. He negotiated the Medicare set-aside guidelines with CMS and maintains a national Medicare practice.

Attorney Pocius will be presenting The Medicare Mystery and Your Settlements: Medicare Set-Aside Update at the SEAK 33rd Annual National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference to be held on July16-18, 2013 on Cape Cod, MA.

Attorney Pocius will review the latest Medicare set aside developments and how they impact workers’ compensation settlements. He will discuss new contractors, delays, and avoiding problems with estimates. Atty. Pocius will explain the new concerns of Medicare advantage plans, part D drug plan, and Medicaid. He will offer practical recommendations for avoiding Medicare set aside problems and how to use the guidelines to your advantage.

For additional information about the SEAK National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference.

Steven Babitsky is the conference leader.