AAJ Pushes Back Against U.S. Chamber and Asbestos Bill
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pushing for a bill that is part of its campaign to absolve the asbestos industry of accountability. The bill could be brought to the House floor for a vote at any time. In preparation, AAJ urges you to help us fight back against the Chamber and weigh in with your congressperson. Your action will make a difference.
» Click here today to contact your member of Congress and tell them to oppose H.R. 4369 — a bill that shields an industry that has known of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure as early as the 1930s.
The bill is called the “Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2012,” and the Chamber is blaming trial lawyers for blocking “transparency.”
This bill has nothing to do with transparency and everything to do with delaying justice and avoiding accountability. Time spent on this bill is a waste of Congressional (and taxpayer) resources, and the ultimate insult to families whose loved ones have died or are dying from asbestos-related diseases.
Thank you for the work you do to protect your clients and preserve the civil justice system. If you have any questions, please contact AAJ Public Affairs Director of Federal Programs Julia Duncan at Julia.Duncan@justice.org.
AAJ Works to Improve MSP Reimbursement; Examining CMS “Future Medicals” Proposal
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have issued a proposal on reimbursing future medical costs to Medicare in cases involving liability insurance. The proposal gives seven options for how CMS believes parties can meet the requirements for reimbursement under the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act.
AAJ is reviewing the proposal and will provide feedback to CMS within the next 60 days. Following that deadline, CMS will review the comments and issue proposed rules. AAJ will have additional opportunity at that time to review the proposed rules and provide additional comment.
CMS’s authority in this area is not well established and AAJ will oppose a rule that imposes burdensome and unworkable requirements. At the same time, the prospect of clarifying, simplifying, and above all, creating certainty in the entire MSP reimbursement process suggests that serious engagement in this regulatory process is worthwhile. This is particularly true given that CMS has made significant progress in its thinking regarding reimbursement of future medicals in liability cases since AAJ Public Affairs has engaged with them on this issue. AAJ will continue to work to improve the MSP reimbursement process in all areas.
To read the CMS proposal, click here.
AAJ will continue to keep you informed of our progress on this issue.
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