Report: Medicare Payments for Calif. Workers’ Comp Claims Increased
Payments for Medicare reimbursements of California workers' compensation claims increased from 2012 to 2013, according to a new report by the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California, Business Insurance reports. The increase occurred despite there being relatively no change in medical losses for workers' compensation claims in the state.
The Medicare Secondary Payer Act mandates that self-insured employers and insurers act as the primary payers for Medicare beneficiaries who file workers' compensation and liability claims (Harrison, Business Insurance, 6/27).
Details of Report
The data used in the report were provided to WCIRB by more than 130 insurer groups through June 24 (WCIRB report, 6/26).
The report found that self-insured employers and insurers in 2013:
- Reimbursed Medicare $6 million for treatments provided to beneficiaries who filed complaints about occupation-related injuries, compared with $3 million in 2012;
- Paid $5.2 billion in medical losses, compared with $4.8 billion in 2012; and
- Paid $446 million for medical cost containment programs related to workers' compensation claims, compared with $414 million in 2012 (Business Insurance, 6/27).