USA: US Medicare Reporting

US medical care

Published: 24 June 2009

Implementation date 1 July 2009

Under a new US law, which will become effective on 1 July 2009, any business entity that pays any health insurance benefits or personal injury settlements or judgments to any injury or wrongful death claimant who is a Medicare recipient, must report such payments to the Medicare authorities.  For our members, this could include personal injury settlements and payments to US seaman, longshoreman, passengers and others. 

Members who have personal injury claims involving Medicare beneficiaries should become familiar with the legal requirements imposed under this new law.  The penalties for members who fail to make the required reports are USD 1,000.00 per day for each day of non-compliance, per claimant. 

A summary of these new requirements is set forth in the attached circular from Thompson Hine LLP:

Product Liability Update: New Requirement to Report Personal Injury Settlements and Payments to Medicare Beneficiaries