Benefit Coordination for Services Reimbursable Under Liability

170 - Benefit Coordination for Services Reimbursable Under Liability Insurance (Rev. 30, 09-05-03) Under §1862(b)(2)(A) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(2)(A)), payment may not be made under Medicare for covered items or services to the extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made promptly, under a liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan). All Medicare payments are contingent upon payment to the Medicare program to the extent that payment with respect to the same items or services has been made, or could be made, under a liability insurance policy or 22 plan (including a self-insured plan). Medicare is subrogated to the rights of the beneficiary and may also recover its benefits directly from liability insurance companies and self-insured plans, and from any entity, including the beneficiary that has been paid by a liability insurer. Medicare's right to recover its benefits from liability insurers and from those who have been paid by liability insurers, takes precedence over the claims of any other party, including Medicaid. Under this Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) provision, the program is a claimant against the responsible party and the liability insurer to the extent that Medicare has made payments to or on behalf of the beneficiary. Medicare can be a party to any claim by a beneficiary or other entity against a liability insurer, can participate in negotiations concerning the total liability insurance payment and the amount to be repaid to Medicare, and may seek recovery of conditional payments directly from the liability insurer. Section 1862(b) of the Act provides that any claimant has the right to take legal action against a liability insurer that fails to pay primary benefits for services covered by the insurer, and to collect double damages.