More changes are in the works regarding Medicare secondary payer rules and workers' compensation, and they have earned the support of major insurance trade groups including the American Insurance Association and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

As reported in "Legislation Would Smooth Insurer Reimbursements To Medicare," by Arthur D. Postal, Washington Bureau Chief for National Underwriter, P&C Magazine, H.R. 1063 was filed on March 14 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The specific purpose of the Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers Act of 2011 is to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the application of Medicare secondary payer rules for certain claims, including workers' compensation.

The bill proposes that in the case of a conditional payment made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for items and services provided to the claimant, the claimant or applicable plan may at any time beginning 120 days before the reasonably expected date of a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment, notify CMS that a payment is reasonably expected, and request from CMS a statement of the conditional payment reimbursement amount.