Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Resource center staff to provide claims assistance The U.S. Department of Labor is taking steps to assist nuclear weapons industry workers with medical bill payments and travel expense reimbursements, the agency announced on Feb. 12. To simplify the medical benefits delivery under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), the department's resource center will now work individually with applicants and health care providers. "These new services will make it much easier for workers and their families to access the medical benefits and travel expense reimbursements they are entitled to," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Specifically, the resource center staff will now act as the main point of contact for energy employees and their families who want assistance with their medical benefits. Experienced and knowledgeable staff will assist on EEOICPA medical benefits card usage, form completion and paperwork processing, as well as the travel expense compensation process. In early February, a letter directed all EEOICPA claimants eligible for medical benefits under the act's Part E to the new resource center role. The resource centers are spread across 11 locations nationwide and provide in-person and telephone-based assistance. For the nearest resource center, call (866) 888-3322.