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SIIA Welcomes Delay in Medicare Secondary Payer Reporting Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. February 18, 2010. – The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) today hailed the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to delay implementation of Medicare secondary payer reporting requirements until January 1, 2011. The department’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) originally had proposed to put the rules in place by April 1, 2010 but relented after pressure from SIIA and other insurance trade groups that argued more time was needed.
“This is welcome relief for self-insured companies that would have experienced a significant hardship and possible financial penalties if they had been unable to implement these rules so soon,” said Michael Ferguson, chief operating officer of SIIA.
SIIA joined with leading property-casualty insurance organizations in a direct appeal this month to HHS Secretary Kathryn Sebelius to delay implementation of the reporting rules because CMS has not yet provided final reporting parameters to insurers and self-insurers subject to the new requirements.
Ferguson noted that property/casualty insurers as well as companies that self-insure have been working diligently for the past two years to meet the new reporting requirements. SIIA’s joint letter to Secretary Sebelius pointed out that CMS has yet to demonstrate that the new reporting system will properly function. “The extension of the reporting deadline will give SIIA government relations staff more time to work with CMS to minimize the unintended consequences of the reporting requirements on our members,” Ferguson said.
SIIA is a national trade association that represents companies involved in the self-insurance/ alternative risk transfer industry. Additional information about the association can be accessed on-line at www.siia.org, or by calling 800/851-7789. ### |
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