Injury Evaluation and Medical Cost Projection for Attorneys and Paralegals

This program is designed to provide an overview of the process used by nurses and life care planners in forecasting future medical costs and needs. A basic understanding of the process aides attorneys and paralegals in evaluating the quality of reports provided and educate opposing parties on the rationale for the cost of future care demanded or offered.

These reports become important in beginning the process of compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act and protecting Plaintiffs' future related to Medicare as they have begun to decline payment for many services with the code "Liability MSA in place".

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and explain why future cost projections are needed

2. Identify the common factors in calculating future medical costs

3. Recognize common treatment modalities including identifying the differences in levels of home attendant care and the role of various physicians, surgical suffices, and commonly used categories of medication 

4. Review common medical conditions (including primary injury, secondary condition, potential complication for major diagnoses or medical conditions) and typical treatment protocols (including common non‐surgical and surgical needs for frequently encountered conditions, including the lumbar spine, the knee, spinal cord injury, lower-extremity amputation, and chronic pain)