HB Announces Newsletter on 'Medicare Secondary Payer' for Tort Attorneys, Insurers

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- HB Litigation Conferences LLC has announced it is starting regular news coverage of legal activity surrounding the recently delayed requirements that insurers and others – including product liability, medical malpractice and toxic tort defendants – report payments made to Medicare beneficiaries as the result of verdicts and settlements.  

The law, called the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, or MMSEA, was established so Medicare and the other agencies can assess whether they have a stake in any past or future medical payments.  

"The government has shown it is serious about recovering medical expenses should parties receive compensation for them in court," said Tom Hagy, CEO of HB Litigation Conferences LLC.  "In the U.S. v. Stricker case filed in federal court in Alabama, the government is seeking $69 million in reimbursement from a $300 million PCB toxic tort and property damage settlement.  The government has sued insurers, defendant companies and even the plaintiffs' attorneys themselves."

"Reports we are getting from around the country are showing a real sense of urgency and confusion," Hagy said.  "Litigants and even judges are working to get out in front of this issue in some areas, while others are just becoming aware of the requirements and their potential responsibilities.  We have reports of companies that falsely think the requirements don't apply to them.  Failing to act early on will at the very least delay settlements in high stakes litigation, or result in significant fines or even lawsuits like U.S. v. Stricker."  

Designed for attorneys handing a variety of injury lawsuits and practice areas – such as toxic torts, product liability, medical malpractice, construction injury, workers compensation, and more – HB's Medicare Secondary Payer report will track regulatory and litigation activity inside and outside the courtroom.  The report will be published in what HB calls a "continuous monthly" format in which subscribers will receive news as it is reported, then a detailed report once a month.  A free headline version of the report will be available as well.  For more information, visit the "Store" at www.LitigationConferences.com, call 484-324-2755, or email [email protected].

HB is a nationally certified provider of legal education, focusing on complex litigation and insurance topics.  It was founded by Hagy, former editor and publisher of Mealey Publications and Vice President of LexisNexis, and Sharon Boothe, the founding director of Mealey's Conferences from 1992 through 2008.

SOURCE HB Litigation Conferences LLC