Statement to the Record on the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers' Compensation Settlement Agreement Act

Statement

I rise today to express my support for HR 1845. Title II addresses a set of issues involving the employers and the casualty insurance industry and the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) law.

However, this is not the only set of MSP issues that impact workers' compensation that also needs to be addressed. My legislation, HR 5284, the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers' Compensation Settlement Agreement Act, is cosponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson and has bipartisan support.

This legislation aims to resolve the delays by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in reviewing workers' compensation settlements to determine the appropriate set-aside amount to be maintained by Medicare beneficiaries to pay for future medical costs in which Medicare may have an interest.

HR 5284 creates a system of certainty and allows the workers' compensation settlement process to move forward while eliminating millions of dollars in administrative costs. It will help create clear and consistent standards, currently lacking in the process, to address workers' compensation issues. Most importantly, it will benefit all parties involved -- injured workers, employers, insurers and CMS.

I am hopeful that the House of Representatives will be able to move HR 5284 towards enactment.

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