Total Articles: 12
Medicare Care Claims Data Available to Employers Under CMS Final Rule
On December 7, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule1 (Final Rule) that would give employers and consumers access to certain Medicare data they could use to evaluate the performance of physicians and hospitals.
Change To Medicare Part D Enrollment Period Impacts Notices Of Coverage
The annual Medicare Part D enrollment period has been moved to October 15 through December 7, beginning with enrollment for 2012. This change will require plan sponsors to update their Medicare Part D Notices of Creditable or Non-creditable Coverage and most likely will require plan sponsors to provide the notices to Medicare eligible participants by October 15 of this year.
Medicare Part D Enrollment Period Shifts, Requiring Employers to Issue Notice a Month Earlier
The Affordable Care Act shifted the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D a month to October 15th through December 7th. Prior to the change, annual enrollment began on November 15th.
Medicare Reporting Requirement Postponed - What You Need To Know.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently postponed until next year its requirement that certain employers (who are at least partially self-insured) and liability insurers report to CMS any one-time or lump sum payments to persons entitled to Medicare benefits in connection with settlements, judgments or awards involving the release of potential liability for medical expenses. Previously, such payments occurring on or after October 1, 2010 were to be reported in the first quarter of 2011. The new deadline requires that payments occurring on or after October 1, 2011 must be reported in the first quarter of 2012.
New Penalty for Failing to Report Payments to Medicare Beneficiaries.
On January 1, 2010, a failure to comply with a new requirement for reporting to Medicare payments to Medicare-eligible individuals for resolution of claims involving medical expenses could cost the payor $1,000 per day in penalties for noncompliance.
CMS Issues Updated Creditable Coverage Notices.
Employers and other entities providing prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals by means other than a Medicare Part D plan must provide notice regarding whether the coverage is “creditable,” meaning whether the actuarial value of the coverage is equal to or exceeds that provided for under Medicare Part D.
Medicare Part D Updated Guidance and Notices (pdf).
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
recently released updated guidance on Medicare Part D
Notices of Creditable Coverage and issued revised model
notices of creditable coverage.
CMS Issues Updated Model Notices (pdf).
s a result of provisions contained in the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act (“MMA”), Medicare-eligible
individuals can now elect to enroll for prescription drug coverage
under Medicare Part D.
Important march 31, 2006 deadline for group health plans: Medicare Part D notification requirement (pdf).
Employers who sponsor group health plans are required to provide notice to the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) about the plans’ prescription drug
coverage.
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Have Implications For Employers (pdf).
As a result of the Medicare Prescription
Drug, Improvement and Modernization
Act of 2003, beginning January
1, 2006, Medicare will offer a voluntary
prescription drug benefit, known as
Medicare Part D, to Medicare eligible
individuals. The Act includes a notice
requirement for employers which must
be satisfied by November 15, 2005.
What Employers Need to Know About the New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage (pdf).
As of January 2, 2006, individuals eligible for Medicare coverage may elect to participate
in a new prescription drug benefit program, Medicare Part D.
Medicare Prescription Drug Act-What Do Employers Need to Do? (pdf).
The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and
Modernization Act (the “Act”), signed into law on
December 8, 2003, is scheduled to go into effect on
January 1, 2006.
