Understanding Structured Settlements and Medicare Set-Asides
October 14, 2021
Settlement – What to Consider for a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA)
When settling a case involving a current Medicare beneficiary and before finalizing, it is important to understand what actions need to be taken to consider …
Beware of “Conscious Ignorance” Exception to Mutual Mistake Challenge to a Contract
September 9, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
The American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct provide a blueprint for attorneys to follow when representing clients. The first Rule and arguably one of the most important ones, outlines a …
#1 | Since You Asked: Synergy’s Workers’ Compensation Medicare Secondary Payer Advice Column
July 28, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
Introducing “Since You Asked,” Synergy’s first in a series of columns addressing MSP compliance questions in the area of workers’ compensation.
Question:
“My client is settling her case and does not know …
Post-Settlement Conditional Payment Issues in Workers’ Compensation Claims
May 13, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
The conditional payment recovery process in a workers’ compensation claim is not always smooth. Although the workers’ compensation insurance carrier will generally resolve any conditional payments in an accepted claim, the injured …
Beware of Problematic Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance Settlement Terms
April 15, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance settlement terms utilized by defendants are often overly broad in nature. The recent opinion, Kupolati v. Village of Timber Creek Association, 2021 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS …
The Evolution of The Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) Arrangement
April 8, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
The nature of the Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) has evolved over the years since the 2001 Patel Memo. That evolution has seen us move from every WCMSA that met the Center …
Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance Challenges in WC Cases
March 11, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
Medicare Secondary Payer compliance issues in workers’ compensation cases are generally straightforward when the parties seek review of the Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) proposal and proposed settlement by the Centers for …
Medicare Set-Asides for General Liability Settlements: How to Protect Your Clients and Your Practice
February 3, 2021
Rasa Fumagalli, JD, MSCC, CMSP-F and Jennifer L. Yu, Esq.
In stark contrast to the world of worker’s compensation, most attorneys agree that there is a dangerous amount of gray area surrounding the subject of Medicare …
CMS Continues Push to Reduce Improper Payments Under the Medicare Program
December 10, 2020
Rasa Fumagalli, JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a press release announcing a steady decline in improper payments under the Medicare Fee-For-Service program over the past few years. The improper …
Liability Medicare Set-Asides: Where are we Today?
November 12, 2020
By: Rasa Fumagalli, JD, MSCC, CMSP-F
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been slow in providing detailed guidance in the area of liability settlements that include compensation for future medicals. To date, …
