Support HR 4796, the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act

Give Seniors a Fighting Chance

Seniors are facing an injustice that Congress can correct. The Medicare Secondary Payer System (MSP) established in the 1980’s was designed to reimburse the Medicare Trust Fund if another insurance or compensation source is available to pay for health care costs. The intent was to keep Medicare solvent, but the result is that Medicare patients are unable to receive timely information from the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) and as a result, they are not receiving their settlements since insurers and others cannot compensate the Medicare patient until CMS is reimbursed. Their money can be tied up for years due to the inefficiency of the MSP system, and many seniors die waiting for compensation that would improve the quality of their lives. HR 4796, the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act would correct this problem by requiring CMS to respond to requests for reimbursements within 60 days. Self-funded by a $30 application fee, this bill costs the taxpayers nothing, and it has the broad support of coalitions including the National Retail Federation and Allstate Insurance. You can help seniors by asking your Member of Congress to cosponsor HR 4796. Take Action!

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Dear (recipient name),

Seniors are facing an injustice that Congress can correct.  The Medicare Secondary Payer System (MSP) established in the 1980’s was designed to reimburse the Medicare Trust Fund if another insurance or compensation source is available to pay for health care costs.  For example, if a Medicare patient receives medical treatment for an injury, and that injury is determined to be covered under workers’ compensation, auto or other liability insurance, Medicare is reimbursed for the medical bills they paid on behalf of the Medicare patient for the injury.  The intent was to keep Medicare solvent, but the result is that Medicare patients are unable to receive timely information from the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) and as a result, they are not receiving their settlements since insurers and others cannot compensate the Medicare patient until CMS is reimbursed.  Their money can be tied up for years due to the inefficiency of the MSP system, and many seniors die waiting for compensation that would improve the quality of their lives.

Adding to this problem is the fact that when CMS finally does respond, it often includes charges that were not specific to the injury and that it cannot be reimbursed for legally!  Then CMS prohibits the patient from receiving any Medicare benefits until the erroneous total is paid!  This lengthy back and forth draws out the process even longer, leaving seniors facing life with no Medicare coverage.  The agency has even been known to garnish seniors’ Social Security benefits over this.

HR 4796, the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act would correct this problem by requiring CMS to respond to requests for reimbursements within 60 days.  Self-funded by a $30 application fee, this bill costs the taxpayers nothing, and it has the broad support of coalitions including the National Retail Federation and Allstate Insurance.

Help seniors, become a cosponsor of HR 4796 today.

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