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2006 News Archives
December 21, 2006
View a listing of Plans that will be losing LIS beneficiaries to random reassignment due to premiums above the benchmark premium for their region.
November 13, 2006
National Mental Health Association (NMHA) Fact Sheets for Beneficiaries
October 2, 2006
Plan Termination. Some Plans will terminate December 31, 2006. What to do…
Premium Change for Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Beneficiaries, 2 scenarios. 1) LIS beneficiaries who remained in their auto-assigned Plan in 2006, and whose Plan in 2007 will now have premiums above the low income premium subsidy amount, will be reassigned to a different plan. 2) LIS beneficiaries who switched out of their auto-assigned Plan and voluntarily enrolled in another plan for 2006 will not be reassigned to a new Plan, even if the current plan premium goes above the subsidy amount in 2007. CMS will not send notification of higher premium amount to these beneficiaries; that notice will come from their current Plan in the Annual Notice of Change.. What to do…
Favorable decisions in 2006. PAs, Exceptions, and favorable ALJ decisions may expire—at the Plan’s option— at the end of the current plan year (12/31/06). What to do…
Plan formularies may change as of January 1, 2007. What to do…
CMS recommends that beneficiaries sign up/change Plans by December 8, 2006 to be certain there are no delays in coverage at the pharmacy Jan 1. How to do it…
September 18, 2006
It should now be easier to review Plan changes and/or compare Medicare drug plan and health plan options for 2007.
For details on how to use the improved Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, click here PDF. The site will go live October 12th. We recommend information from this site be confirmed directly with the Plan before any final decision is made.
ALERT:
As of Monday, September 18, CMS halted retrieval of
premium refunds as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for
Medicare Advocacy Inc on behalf of the Gray Panthers and the Action
Alliance of Senior Citizens.
More to follow.
September 7, 2006
CMS 2007 Plan Formulary Guidance -- Final
This paper is final guidance on how CMS will review Medicare prescription drug benefit plans
to assure that beneficiaries receive clinically appropriate medications at the lowest possible cost.
» PDF Click here to read the full Guide
August 29, 2006
Erroneous Plan Premium Refunds: CMS corrective measures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide a range of options for assuring that the refunds go to the intended purpose of paying beneficiary premiums while minimizing inconvenience for beneficiaries.
» Click here to read more.
July 11, 2006
Latest Medicare Prescription Drug Enrollment Update
For the Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief summarizing the latest enrollment figures from CMS and SSA with a comparison to earlier enrollment projections, click here.
April 11, 2006
On April 11, 2006, the American Medical Association and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which represents pharmacy benefit plans, released a standard form to obtain Part D exceptions and prior authorizations. The form was developed through an AMA workgroup that included among others the American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a number of beneficiary advocacy groups.
» PDF Click here to read the letter to CMS
April 4, 2006
CMS Information and Material Regarding the Transitional Period:
» Transition Fact Sheet
» PDF Information Sheet "Getting Drugs After [Your] Transition Period
March 28, 2006
Medicare Drug Plans: Restrictions on Access to Formulary Drugs
» PDF Click here to read the full release
March 28, 2006
Important Update on CMS Continuity of Care and Transition Policies.
» Click here to the read the full release
March 28, 2006
CMS encourages early-in-month enrollments.
» PDF Click here to the read the full release
March 28, 2006
Medicare Rights Center releases statement about the failure of the Part D appeals process.
» Click here to the read the full release
March 28 2006
Medicare has notified plans that the initial 30-day transition coverage period has been extended. CMS Tip Sheet clarifies transition period for current beneficiaries and those enrolling in plans beginning March 1 and later.
» PDF Click here to the read the full release
March 8, 2006
CMS has asked Plans to relax 30-day billing limits and allow pharmacists and beneficiaries 90 days to provide documentation for incorrect payments made.
» PDF Click here to read the CMS Fact Sheet
March 7, 2006
CMS has established a pilot program to ensure that states will be reimbursed for assistance they provide to dual eligible beneficiaries who are currently unable to receive their drugs under Part D.
» PDF Click here to read the CMS Fact Sheet
March 7, 2006
California Attorney General Announces Plan to File Lawsuit Challenging Medicare Part D
» Click here to read the full press release
February 8, 2006
Important Update on CMS Continuity of Care and Transition Policies.
» Click here to read the full press release
February 2, 2006
CMS Extends Transition Period From 30 to 90 Days
» PDF Click here to read the entire report. The news of the transition extension is on page 4.
February 1, 2006
CMS has established a pilot program to ensure that states will be reimbursed for assistance they provide to dual eligible beneficiaries who are currently unable to receive their drugs under Part D.
» PDF Click here to read the CMS Fact Sheet.
January 30, 2006
CMS issues online letter to healthcare providers in effort to provide better access to information required to ensure patients receive required drugs.
» PDF Click
here to download in PDF format. (letter released 1/27/06)
January 20, 2006
For a complete list and contact information for CMS Regional Office Part D Assistance Centers, please click here. (Updated January 20, 2006)
January 16, 2006
Important Updates on Part D Implementation:
Bush Administration Requiring Action from Plans; CMS Releasing New Updates
» Click here to read the full press release.
January 13, 2006
State Summary - Part D Implementation Issues
» Click here to read the full press release.
January 13, 2006
APA Expresses Concerns About Medicare Part D
Prescription Program Impact on Patient Care
» Click here to read the full press release.
January 11, 2006
Important updates on Part D problems throughout the country.
» Click here to read the full press release.
January 3, 2006
Click here to view important
tips for physicians and patients at the pharmacy.
» PDF Click
here to download in PDF format.
Updated 10-12-2007
