Business Insurance’s Angela Childers turned to Tower’s Dan Anders for insight into how claims become catastrophic. Brand-name medications, opioids and the meds required to treat their side effects, and ineffective initial treatment are among the causes he cites. Payers can prevent cost escalation by having a “settlement mindset” from the beginning, he advises. Read more here. (registration or subscription will be required.)

Dan Anders shared Tower’s experience on a possible trend to shift drug spend to ancillary services and alternative treatment (like acupuncture) and any effect on MSAs with WorkCompCentral’s Elaine Goodman. While another company said its average MSA amount was up 5.1% in 2018, Tower’s data shows a 13% decline in the average CMS-approved MSA. This is mainly due to reductions in prescription drugs, Anders said. And, although 66% of Tower’s MSAs were approved with no pharmacy allocation, Tower has not seen an increased allocation for non-pharmacy treatment. See more (subscription required) here.

The concept of not submitting a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) for approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has become an increasingly popular topic in workers’ compensation.  This week’s WorkCompWire Leaders Speak features Tower Chief Compliance Officer Dan Anders’ insight on why it’s still OK to submit an MSA.

The article can be found here.

Daniel M. Anders, JD, MSCC, the Chief Compliance Officer for Tower MSA Partners, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Alliance of Medicare Set Aside Professionals (NAMSAP) and will serve on its executive committee as treasurer for 2019. An attorney who holds the Medicare Set-Aside Consultant Certified and Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional credentials, Anders also co-chairs NAMSAP’s Policy and Legislative Committee.

Anders and Tower have been active in the organization for several years; Tower’s CEO Rita Wilson is the immediate past president, and Wilson and Anders frequently speak at its conferences and webinars.

“We’re dedicated to continuing our work with NAMSAP,” Wilson said. “It provides timely and comprehensive education and is the leading advocate for Medicare Secondary Payer compliance policies and practices that serve all stakeholders.”