What threshold must be met for a WCMSA to be submitted to CMS for review?

The requirement for submitting a Workers' Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement (WCMSA) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revolves primarily around the total settlement amount. Specifically, the threshold is set at a total settlement exceeding $25,000. When a settlement meets this threshold, it indicates there are significant financial resources that could potentially be used for future medical expenses related to the claimant's work-related injury, thus necessitating careful oversight to ensure Medicare does not pay for those expenses that should be the responsibility of the Workers' Compensation payer.

Additionally, it’s important to consider that the purpose of the WCMSA is to allocate funds for future medical expenses that will likely be covered by Medicare, thereby protecting Medicare's interests in cases where a claimant is or will become a Medicare beneficiary. The threshold does not specifically address the age of the claimant or the amount of future medical expenses but focuses on the total settlement amount, which is why this answer is correct.