Events Archives

Beat the Clock: Section 111 Reporting Checklist Before Audits Start

September 30, 2025

Tower MSA Partners October Webinar prepare you for CMS Section 111 audits in 2026.

Starting in Q1 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin quarterly Section 111 reporting audits and is expected to issue financial penalties for non-compliant payers. What has been “coming soon” for years is now a reality, and the clock is ticking.

Join Dan Anders, Tower MSA Partners’ Chief Compliance Officer on Wednesday, October 22, at 2 pm ET, for a practical, actionable session designed to make sure your reporting is audit-proof. Dan will also provide an update on Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) Section 111 reporting.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Key criteria & timelines for Section 111 penalty implementation.
Final reporting checklist to eliminate errors and avoid penalties.
How CMS Section 111 reporting audits identify errors and blind spots and how to correct them.
Critical updates on Workers’ Compensation MSA reporting, and common pitfalls that lead to penalties

Date: Wednesday, October 22

Time: 2:00 PM ET

Register Here

Bring your toughest questions – a live Q&A session will follow the presentation. You may also submit questions ahead of time during registration.

Please click the link above and register today!

Please note that no CEU credit is offered for this webinar.

Rockstar Careers: Finding Your Rhythm in Workers’ Comp

September 3, 2025

Tower MSA Partners shares career journeys and leadership lessons from WCI TV interviews at the 2025 Workers’ Compensation Institute Conference.

Highlights from WCI TV at WCI 2025

Once again, Tower MSA Partners proudly sponsored WCI TV at the Workers’ Compensation Institute’s Annual Conference in Orlando, held August 17–20, 2025. Each year, WCI TV shines a spotlight on the people and ideas shaping the workers’ compensation community. This year’s theme, “Rockstar Careers: Finding Your Rhythm in Workers’ Comp,” invited industry leaders to share the unexpected ways they found their way into the field and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

The conversations revealed humor, heart, and the shared passion that keeps this community strong. Below are highlights from the inspiring interviews.

Dan Anders – Tower MSA Partners

As Tower MSA Partners’ Chief Compliance Officer, Dan Anders is no stranger to the spotlight at WCI. He kicked off this year’s series by reflecting on how is own career path began outside the industry, in politics and law, before a colleague introduced him to workers’ compensation. What began as an unexpected opportunity turned into a 23-year journey.

“I didn’t know anything about it, but I needed a job. That began my 23-year journey in workers’ compensation.”

When asked what advice he’d give to those considering the field, Dan emphasized both sides of the practice—helping injured workers as a plaintiff’s attorney or solving problems as defense counsel. Either way, he said, it’s a career that offers variety and purpose.

Dan also credited mentors for shaping his path, from his first law firm partner who handed him his first Medicare Set-Aside file, to Tower’s retired CEO Rita Wilson:

“She exemplified how a Medicare compliance company can provide an exceptional level of customer service… and really make the lives of our client partners easier.”

Watch Dan’s full interview

Patti Colwell – Southwest Airlines

With 30 years at Southwest Airlines, Patti Colwell knows what it takes to build a career that lasts. Now the Manager of Workers’ Compensation Programs nationwide, Patti confessed she never sought out this career—it found her.

“I didn’t pick workers’ comp, it picked me. My boss said, ‘Boy, have I got a deal for you.’”

Over the last 25 years, she’s developed an approach centered on problem-solving and empathy. Patti stressed the importance of being flexible:

“You have to be able to live in the gray area. Even though it’s regulated… you may have to think outside those regulations to find the right solution and do the right thing.”

Keys to success, she added, include lifelong learning, compassion, and the ability to have tough conversations while still offering solutions. Patti credited her VP in Southwest’s People Department for giving her the confidence to take on workers’ comp in the first place:

“Because of her support, that really gave me the confidence boost I needed to say, ‘Yeah, I can do this.’”

Watch Patti’s full interview

Greg Hamlin – Berkley Industrial Comp

Greg Hamlin, Chief Claims Officer at Berkley Industrial Comp, oversees claims in some of the nation’s riskiest industries—construction, mining, and other high-hazard environments. But his career started far from insurance.

“As a kid, I wanted to do theater. Then I spent a couple years on the Navajo reservation and realized I loved giving back. Eventually, Liberty Mutual recruited me out of college.”

For Greg, workers’ comp is about stability, service, and impact:

“We’re meeting people on their worst days, and we’re helping them get back to work and recover.”

His advice to newcomers is practical and encouraging:

“It’s a very stable industry with lots of opportunity. You get to play in a lot of different sandboxes—law, finance, medicine—and really help people.”

Greg also shared wisdom passed down from a mentor who left a lasting impression:

“He always said, ‘Always think in a positive manner.’ In this industry, where we meet people in their darkest moments, that mindset really matters.”

Watch Greg’s full interview

Brenda Chitty – NARISK

For Brenda Chitty, Assistant Director of Workforce Development at NARISK, workers’ comp is about service at every level—injured workers, clients, and partners. Like many, she didn’t plan on the field; it found her.

“Workers’ compensation found me. I started in disability case management and then moved into a trucking company’s comp department—and I never left.”

Her advice for newcomers is rooted in humility and purpose:

“Make sure you want to be a servant. Workers’ compensation is about taking care of people. When you do, you’ll find it very rewarding.”

For those already a few years into the field, Brenda’s encouragement was simple but powerful:

“Stick it out. Stay true to who you are and what you know. Someone is counting on you.”

Brenda also credited her parents, who ran a furniture store, for teaching her customer service from an early age:

“I learned how to treat people from the age of four to 21. My parents were my biggest heroes.”

Watch Brenda’s full interview

Bryan Conner & Drew Cashatt – American Airlines

Perhaps the most dynamic interview came from Bryan Conner and Drew Cashatt of American Airlines, whose friendship and shared leadership embody the theme of servant leadership.

Bryan, once a flight attendant, pivoted into workers’ comp after realizing injured colleagues needed stronger advocacy:

“A flight attendant came into my office and said, ‘I’ve been injured and I needed more help.’ I took that as my life’s mission—to create an advocacy-based workers’ comp program.”

Drew’s path began loading luggage for TWA while in law school before he found his way into accommodations and workers’ comp. Both now lead programs designed to holistically support injured team members.

Their advice? Servant leadership.

“Be a servant to those injured workers. They’re at the lowest point in their lives. Advocate for them and help them recover successfully.” —Drew

Perhaps the most touching moment came when Bryan named Drew as the person who most impacted his career:

“You’re sitting right beside me. He is a servant leader, and together we know we can make a difference.”

Drew echoed the sentiment, underscoring the bond the two share as colleagues, accountability partners, and friends.

Watch Bryan & Drew’s full interview

Key Themes Across the Interviews

Across each conversation, a few themes rang loud and clear:

Workers’ comp chooses you: Almost everyone admitted they didn’t plan for this career—it found them.
Service is the core: Whether in airlines, TPAs, or insurers, the heartbeat of workers’ comp is caring for people during difficult times.
Mentors matter: Each speaker credited mentors, colleagues, or family for shaping their journey.
Adaptability and empathy: From “living in the gray area” to “always thinking positive,” success in this field requires both skill and heart.

Conclusion

The 2025 WCI TV “Rockstar Careers” series reminded us that workers’ comp is more than rules and claims—it’s a people business, built on service, resilience, and leadership. Each story revealed not just a career path, but a calling. Together, they form a chorus that makes this industry stronger, more compassionate, and, yes, a little more rock-and-roll.

Significant Changes Coming to Florida Fee Schedule: What It Means for Your MSA Costs

October 24, 2024

Florida’s 2025 Fee Schedule Changes Will Raise MSA Costs

Starting January 1, 2025, Florida is making some significant changes to its fee schedule, which will lead to higher MSA (Medicare Set-Aside) costs – sometimes significantly so. Here’s what you need to know.

Increased Physician Reimbursement Rates in Florida’s New Fee Schedule

In June 2024, the governor signed a new law that increases the maximum reimbursement rates for physicians and surgical procedures. For doctors, the rates will jump from 110% to 175% of the Medicare allowable reimbursement rate, while surgical procedures rates will rise from 140% to 210%. The Florida Association of Orthopaedic Executives said “that represents an unprecedented increase in physician reimbursement of 59% for non-surgical codes and 50% for surgical care.” These rates haven’t changed in 20 years, and Florida is presently the lowest in the nation.

How Florida’s New Fee Schedule Affects MSA Pricing

What does this mean for MSAs? Since MSA pricing is based on the relevant workers’ compensation fee schedule, there is an opportunity to lock in lower costs for Florida MSAs if you get CMS approval before January 1, 2025.

What Should You Do?

Already Have an MSA Prepared? If Tower has already prepared a Florida MSA for you and the estimated settlement exceeds CMS MSA review thresholds, submit it as soon as possible to achieve cost-savings.
No MSA Yet, But Settlement Coming Soon? If you’re expecting a settlement in the coming months, now is the time to get an MSA prepared and submitted for approval.

Remember, once CMS approves an MSA, that approval does not expire. So, even if settlement occurs after the fee changes, the approved MSA amount remains valid.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Tower’s Chief Compliance Officer, Dan Anders, at daniel.anders@towermsa.com. And, if you’re ready to move forward with a Florida MSA submission or preparation, please contact us at referrals@towermsa.com.

CMS Sets October 17 for Webinar on Section 111 Reporting Penalties

October 9, 2024

Upcoming CMS Webinar on Section 111 Reporting Penalties

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has scheduled an important webinar on October 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM ET, specifically covering Section 111 reporting Civil Money Penalties (CMPs) and their implications for all relevant stakeholders involved in compliance and reporting.

Webinar Format and Focus From CMS

CMS will be hosting a comprehensive webinar regarding Certain Civil Money Penalties for NGHP Responsible Reporting Entities (RREs). This informative session aims to clarify the implications of these penalties and ensure that all RREs are well-informed. The format will include opening remarks from CMS officials, followed by a detailed presentation that will cover essential topics. Attendees can expect reminders about the Final Rule, insights into the auditing process, and critical dates that RREs need to remember. After the presentation, there will be a dedicated question-and-answer session, allowing participants to seek clarification and address specific concerns related to the Civil Money Penalties. This interactive component is designed to enhance understanding and foster engagement among all attendees.

RREs who would like to submit questions in advance of the webinar are encouraged to do so using the dedicated resource mailbox at Sec111CMP@cms.hhs.gov.

There is no pre-registration for the webinar. Full details can be found here.

Previous Webinar Insights

The upcoming webinar focuses on Section 111 penalties, while a previous webinar covered Section 111 reporting best practices and upcoming changes. A copy of the slides and notes of the prior session are here.

CMS recently added a new page to its website, which provides NGHP Civil Money Penalties information, including a flow chart. CMPs are applicable starting October 11, 2024, and audits begin in January 2026. We encourage a review of CMS’ website and articles Tower has published on the topic, including Section 111 Reporting for WCMSAs & Avoiding Civil Penalties.

Tower MSA Partners’ Chief Compliance Officer Dan Anders Featured on Ametros Podcast “It’s Settled”

September 25, 2024

Dan Anders, Chief Compliance Officer at Tower MSA Partners, was recently featured on Ametros’ podcast, “It’s Settled.

We are excited to share that Dan Anders, Chief Compliance Officer at Tower MSA Partners, was recently featured on Ametros’ podcast, “It’s Settled.” In this engaging episode, Dan sat down with Andrea Mills, Ametros’ Chief Client Officer, and John Kane, Senior Vice President of Strategy, to dive deep into the latest news and developments surrounding Medicare Set-Asides (MSAs). This discussion covered essential topics that impact the workers’ compensation and liability settlement space, including upcoming changes to Section 111 reporting, best practices for preparing MSAs, and the value of professional administration.

Upcoming Section 111 Reporting Changes

One of the key topics covered was the upcoming changes to Section 111 reporting and their implications for insurers and self-insured entities. Dan provided insightful commentary on what these changes mean and how they will affect the reporting process. With new compliance requirements on the horizon, now is the time for stakeholders to review their reporting strategies and ensure they are prepared for these regulatory shifts.

When to Prepare an MSA

Another critical topic discussed was when to prepare an MSA. Dan highlighted the importance of evaluating the need for an MSA early in the settlement process to avoid costly delays. He also provided insights into how Tower MSA Partners helps clients navigate complex cases by offering expert guidance on when and how to prepare MSAs effectively.

The Value of Professional Administration

The conversation also touched on the value of professional administration for MSAs, emphasizing how Ametros helps individuals manage their settlement funds to ensure compliance with Medicare’s requirements. Dan, Andrea, and John discussed how professional administration not only ensures the longevity of settlement funds but also helps alleviate the administrative burden on injured individuals.

Tips for Preparing an MSA

During the episode, Dan shared several tips and tricks for preparing an MSA, helping listeners understand the importance of accuracy and thoroughness when it comes to documentation. He also explained how Tower MSA Partners’ streamlined approach helps clients minimize risks and expedite settlements.

Upcoming Webinars and Conferences

As the discussion wrapped up, the group previewed upcoming educational opportunities, including a webinar, A Claims Professional’s Guide to Successful Settlements with MSAs, hosted by Tower MSA Partners on October 2^nd. Dan encouraged attendees to sign up for this and other webinars to stay informed on compliance topics and best practices in the MSA industry.

Listen Now

You can catch this insightful episode of “It’s Settled” featuring Dan Anders by clicking here.

Stay tuned for more updates from Tower MSA Partners as we continue to provide our clients with the latest compliance and settlement strategies. Be sure to sign up for our upcoming October 2nd webinar to stay informed on these important issues.

Tower MSA Partners Maintains  SOC 2 Type II Compliance, Affirms Commitment to Highest Security Standards

September 18, 2024

Tower MSA Partners is proud to announce the successful completion of our annual SOC 2 Type II compliance examination, performed by independent service auditor Insight Assurance. This milestone underscores our unwavering commitment to maintaining and enhancing the highest standards of data security and integrity, essential in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Understanding SOC 2 Type II: A Comprehensive Audit of Non-Financial Reporting Controls

A SOC 2 Type II compliance examination is a rigorous assessment performed by an independent auditor to evaluate a service organization’s non-financial reporting controls over time. This involves testing the operational effectiveness of a company’s controls related to the applicable criteria for the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and/or privacy trust services categories developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

This year’s SOC 2 audit added the availability and processing integrity trust service categories (TSCs) to the previously examined security and confidentiality TSCs.

Rita Wilson on Tower MSA Partners’ Commitment to Security

Rita Wilson, CEO of Tower MSA Partners, said, “Achieving the SOC 2 Type II attestation is not just about meeting a regulatory standard, but about affirming our commitment to protect our client’s data with the highest standards of security and confidentiality. This audit reflects the robustness of our internal controls and processes, and it reassures our clients and partners that we are dedicated to the highest levels of trust and integrity.”

From the onset, Tower has integrated technology-driven processes with stringent security measures to ensure the privacy and security of client data. The successful completion of the SOC 2 Type II examination is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to excellence.

Tower Premier Webinar: A Claims Professional’s Guide to Successful Settlements with MSAs

September 12, 2024

Overcoming Medicare Set-Asides Challenges: Key Strategies for Successful Settlements

Navigating Medicare Set-Asides can often feel like a daunting challenge during settlement. Even when all parties agree on the need to include an MSA, the allocation may be too high or the documentation requirements too burdensome.
However, the MSA hurdle can be overcome with the right approach.

Understanding when an MSA is appropriate, what’s needed to prepare a reasonable MSA, and how to manage cost and time factors are key to overcoming these obstacles.

Join Our Webinar: Expert Guide to MSAs on October 2, 2024

Join us on October 2, 2024, at 2 pm ET, as Tower’s Chief Compliance Officer, Dan Anders, and Brittney O’Neal, Director of Clinical Operations, present a claims professional’s guide to successful settlements with MSAs. In this webinar, we’ll cover:

• The appropriate time to obtain an MSA
• Essential documentation for drafting an MSA
• Differentiating between Medicare-covered or non-Medicare-covered treatment
• Understanding the difference between submitted and non-submitted MSAs
• Strategies when a CMS-approved MSA cannot be obtained
• Utilizing the CMS re-review and amended review process effectively
• Circumstances when a $0 MSA is appropriate
• The value of MSA professional administration and structured settlements

If you are interested in the ins and outs of MSAs, this free webinar is for you. Plus, if there is something about MSAs you’ve always wondered about, ask us! When you click on the registration link below, you will not only be able to register, but you can also submit a question to be answered during the webinar.

Hope you can join us on October 2 at 2 pm ET!

Empathy in Action: Highlights from WCI

September 6, 2024

Empathy being show by care giver to patient. One of the things promoted at WCI to improve outcomes.

At the recent Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in Orlando, FL, empathy took center stage during the WCI-TV segments, sponsored for the ninth consecutive year by Tower MSA Partners. This year’s theme, “Empathy in Workers’ Compensation,” showcased how various industry leaders infuse empathy throughout the claims process, even when they don’t directly interact with injured workers.

Empathy: A vital component

Empathy is a vital component in workers’ compensation, influencing culture, product design, and service delivery across the industry. It ensures that injured workers feel supported and understood, which can lead to improved outcomes, reduced fear, and even a decrease in litigation. By fostering collaboration, care, and consistency, companies across the workers’ compensation landscape are making significant strides in incorporating empathy into their processes.

United Airlines: The Power of Caring

Joan Vincenz, Managing Director of Corporate Safety at United Airlines, spoke about the lasting impact of empathy on injured workers. “People will never forget how they’re treated when they are injured at work. It matters how we treat people when they’re in trouble,” she stated. United Airlines’ philosophy is rooted in safety and care. Beyond preventing injuries, United prioritizes getting immediate, quality care for employees after an injury and helping them navigate the complex workers’ compensation system to return them to health. Vincenz emphasized that the most empathetic thing companies can do is to communicate regularly with injured workers and guide them through the complex workers’ compensation process.

Berkley Industrial Comp: Empathetic Resolution Model

Greg Hamlin, SVP and Chief Claims Officer at Berkley Industrial Comp, highlighted their efforts to embed empathy into the claims process through the Empathetic Resolution Model. This model was developed with input from adjusters on the front lines, who offered suggestions for making the process more human and compassionate. One such suggestion was to rewrite the letters sent to injured workers, making them more empathetic and less formal. Berkley also implemented thoughtful gestures, such as sending cookies to injured workers post-surgery and maintaining regular contact through texts and calls. These small but meaningful actions demonstrate Berkley’s commitment to authentic empathy at every step of the claims process.

Tower MSA Partners: Advocates for Injured Workers

While Tower MSA Partners doesn’t regularly interact with injured workers, it plays a crucial role in supporting claims professionals and attorneys in the settlement process. Kristine Dudley, COO of Tower MSA Partners, explained Tower’s philosophy of the “3 C’s”: Care, Cost, and Compliance. Care, in this context, doesn’t mean providing the most care but rather the most appropriate care for the long-term well-being of injured workers. Tower’s team works closely with treating providers to clarify and confirm treatment plans, ensuring that the right care is included in the MSA. Their aim is to allay fears, answer questions, and make the settlement process as smooth as possible for injured workers.

Ametros: Empathy Through Care and Support

Porter Leslie, CEO of Ametros, emphasized that empathy begins with caring for every individual who interacts with their platform. Ametros’ flagship product, CareGuard, is designed to administer injured workers’ settlement funds, ensuring that they receive ongoing support. At the core of Ametros’ philosophy is “care”, which Leslie describes as the foundation of their empathetic approach. By providing continuous assistance and ensuring that workers feel cared for, Ametros exemplifies how empathy can be embedded in the very fabric of a company’s operations.

The WCI-TV segments at this year’s Workers’ Compensation Conference highlighted how empathy can transform the workers’ compensation experience. From Ametros’ ongoing support to Berkley’s empathetic resolution model and United Airlines’ commitment to caring, companies across the industry are proving that empathy is not just a buzzword but a powerful tool for improving outcomes and reducing litigation. Through thoughtful actions, clear communication, and a focus on the well-being of injured workers, the workers’ compensation industry can continue to evolve with empathy at its core.

CMS Sets September 12 for Webinar on Section 111 Reporting

August 28, 2024

Webinar on Section 111 Reporting of WCMSAs

Don’t Miss the CMS Webinar on Section 111 Reporting

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has scheduled a September 12, 2024 webinar on Section 111 reporting. Per the announcement:

The format will be opening remarks by CMS, a presentation that will include NGHP reporting best practices and reminders, followed by a question and answer session. For questions regarding Section 111 reporting, prior to the webinar, please utilize the Section 111 Resource Mailbox PL110-173SEC111-comments@cms.hhs.gov.

There is no pre-registration for the webinar. Full details can be found here.

While CMS does not indicate the webinar is specific to Section 111 Civil Money Penalties, given that CMPs become applicable as of October 11, 2024, this presents an opportunity to have any questions addressed before that date. Questions around the April 4, 2025 implementation of Section 111 Reporting of WCMSAs would also be encouraged.

Tower-sponsored WCI-TV Segments Focus on Empathy

August 14, 2024

Tower MSA Partners Promotes Empathy In Workers' Comp

Empathy. We know we need it, but what exactly is it and how do we use it to help injured employees?

The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines empathy as the “action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts and experience of another.” The Society for General Internal Medicine tweaked the definition to apply to healthcare as “the act of correctly acknowledging the emotional state of another without experiencing that state oneself.”

Empathy: A Key to Enhancing Worker Satisfaction and Streamlining Claims in Workers’ Compensation

The workers’ compensation community has embraced the concept of empathy. In articles and at conferences, experts say that injured employees who receive empathy from their providers, employers and insurers report higher levels of satisfaction with their care and are less likely to hire attorneys. It makes sense that an injured worker who feels heard and understood will be more apt to participate in their care, recover faster and return to work. Settlement professionals, like our partner Ametros, have seen empathetic communication break down barriers to the settlement of claims.

So how does one acknowledge the emotional state of another? What does empathy look like in the real world? Is it a skill that can be taught? Can you be too empathetic? Are there ways to incorporate empathy into claims management processes?

Tower will explore these questions during our sponsored WCI-TV interviews. Our guests include Joan Vincenz, Managing Director, Corporate Safety for United Airlines and Greg Hamlin, Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer of Berkley Industrial Comp. Other interviews feature Kristi Montoya, Director of Claims Operations for UPS, and Denise Evans, the Director of Claims for Staffmark. Our Chief Compliance Officer Dan Anders and our Chief Operating Officer Kristine Dudley will also share their views.

Tower is the founding sponsor of WCI-TV, which airs during the WCI conference, in hotel rooms and on shuttles as well as on You Tube and WCI’s website. You can see the interviews on Tower’s Linked In home page, too. The 78^th Annual WCI Conference will be held August 18-21 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

While at WCI, Dan Anders will also moderate a Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance Panel. The “Pre-Settlement Considerations” session runs from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20 and features Ametros’ John Kane, Brian Broznowicz with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Ringler’s Jarrod Zea, and Kristi Montoya with UPS.

WCI is always busy, but we’d love to catch up with you there! Dan, Kristine Dudley and Hany Abdelsayed will attend the conference. To schedule a meeting before WCI, email daniel.anders@towermsa.com. Otherwise, grab us in the hallways or at the WCI-TV studio.