Lien Administrator Questionnaires: If possible, copies of any governmental lien assertions/notifications should be sent to the LRA and completion of the on-line Medical Lien Questionnaire should be completed by February 29, 2008. However, compliance with this suggested time frame should not interfere with the Enrollment process. Counsel is encouraged to give priority to enrolling his or her claimants in the Program.
The transfer of this information will allow the LRA to redirect this government lien activity from your firm and will help the Program move towards the Interim Settlement Payment date. |
The Federal Court overseeing the Vioxx Settlement Program has appointed The Garretson Law Firm to serve as the Lien Resolution Administrator ("LRA"). In this role, The Garretson Law Firm is tasked with uniformly satisfying and discharging the statutory interests of Governmental Authority Third Party Providers/Payors. The links below are: 1) Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs") for attorneys about the lien resolution process for the Vioxx Settlement Program, and 2) Client Educational Materials Regarding Government Medical Liens for the Enrolling Claimants (for counsel's immediate distribution to your clients). These attached materials outline the LRA's role, counsel's obligations, and the obligations of Enrolling Claimants with regards to such government healthcare liens and reimbursement rights.
As you will read in the FAQ document, it is very important that neither you nor your client contact Medicare or Medicaid directly in regards to the tort obligation associated with this settlement, as doing so will duplicate the LRA's efforts and result in significant delays. The FAQs also outline three steps counsel must take on or before February 29, 2008, so that the LRA may move forward without delay or complications related to your cases:
- If you or your client has received notice and/or placed the Medicare and/or Medicaid agencies on notice ("Notice Claimants"), answer the on-line Lien Questionnaire for those Notice Claimants (See FAQs 2 and 4 for more details).
- The Lien Administrator also will resolve VA, Tricare, Department of Defense and Indian Health Services liens which are brought to its attention by Enrolling Claimants, their attorneys, or these agencies. If you or your client has received notice and/or placed these agencies on notice, answer the on-line Lien Questionnaire for those clients as well. (See FAQs 2 and 9 for more details);
- Update each of your clients' profiles on the "Medical Lien Information" tab on the Claims Administrator's Primary Counsel Web Portal to capture which government benefit programs your clients are receiving (or have received since the first date of Vioxx ingestion), and which have provided a notice of claim (See FAQ 2 for more detail).
To access your Primary Counsel Web Portal, click the "Logon" button on the left and use your secure Logon ID and password provided during the Registration process. Select Claimant Search to locate the Claimant, click on the Claimant's VCN number, and then click on the "Medical Lien Information" link below the Forms Links menu to access the Medical Lien Questionnaire. |
