Expanding the Long Arm of CMS

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to phase out the waiting period for Medicare over the next 10 years from 24 months to zero. Under the proposal, "......[i]n 2010, it would be reduced to 18 months and then reduced by 2 months each year until January 2019, when it would be totally eliminated."

Such an expansion would expand the involvement of CMS's roll in the workers' compensation program under the Medicare Secondary Payor Act to seek reimbursement.