Postponement of Medicare Secondary Payer Mandatory Reporting Until Jan. 1, 2011.

According to an April 5, 2010 online article by an Attorney Kathy Donovan for Claims magazine, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that the planned April 1, 2010 implementation of the Medicare Secondary Payer Mandatory Reporting (MSP) has been pushed back to January 1, 2011.

It was indicated that this postponement of the pending federal reporting requirement enables insurance companies the opportunity to learn more about the process and prepare for the implementation of the statutory changes.

According to the article, the delay only affects non-group health plan insurers (NGHP), which are defined in the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) as being an “applicable plan” for liability insurance (including self-insurance), no-fault insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. Included in this group are liability carriers who are dealing with an injured party who may be a Medicare beneficiary

The article further notes that, the implementation of the statutory requirements was delayed, in part, address the insurance industry's need for additional guidance on the applicably requirements and the procedures.

In addition to reviewing some revisions that are anticipated in a Congressional Bill entitled the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act of 2010, Attorney Donovan notes in her article that up-to-date information about the clarification of existing requirements and guidelines and available assistance can be accessed on the CMS site.

Attorney Donovan's complete article can be viewed by clicking on this link: http://www.claimsmag.com/Exclusives/2010/4/Pages/Medicare-Claim-Reporting-Delay-Provides-Opportunities-for-Casualty-Insurers.aspx.