Sunday, 17 January 2010 NEWS – CONGRESSMAN PETE STARK 239 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5065 www.stark.house.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 18, 2010 CONTACT: Brian Cook, (202) 225-3202 GAO REPORT DETAILS MARKETING ABUSES IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE Full Extent of Insurers' Misbehavior is Unknown Because of Limited Data WASHINGTON – ...

This guidance update is effective for contract year 2010. All enrollments with an effective date on or after January 1, 2010, must be processed in accordance with the revised guidance requirements, including new model enrollment forms and notices provided. Organizations may, at their option, implement any aspect of this guidance (e.g. new model forms/notices) prior to the required implementation date. View Complete Guidance Update

This interim final rule with comment period (IFC) revises the regulations governing the Medicare Advantage (MA) program (Part C), and prescription drug benefit program (Part D). This IFC sets forth new requirements governing the marketing of Part C and Part D plans which by statute must be in place at a date specified by the Secretary, but no later than November 15, 2008. The new marketing requirements, which set forth new limits on the compensation that can be paid to agents or brokers with res...

Marketing of 2008 Plans Several plans inquired about the marketing rules for 2008 plans sold with the effective dates of October-December 2008. The new marketing rules are in effect for the marketing of products available in benefit year 2009. Once plans begin marketing their 2009 products, marketing for 2008 must stop. Marketing for the 2009 benefit year began on October 1, 2008, and all plans that begin marking their 2009 products after that date must be compliant with the marketing requir...

MEMORANDUM DATE: October 8, 2008 TO: Medicare Advantage Organizations Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Organizations Cost-Based Contractors Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors Employer/Union-Sponsored Group Health Plans FROM: Abby L. Block /s/ Director, Center for Drug and Health Plan Choice SUBJECT: Clarification of guidance for regulations in CMS 4131-F and CMS 4138-IFC On September 15, 2008, we released guidance to help the industry implement the new Medicare regulations, CMS 41...

DATE: September 15, 2008 TO: Medicare Advantage Organizations Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Organizations Cost-Based Contractors Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors Employer/Union-Sponsored Group Health Plans FROM: Abby L. Block, Director, Center for Drug and Health Plan Choice (CPC) RE: Guidance for regulations in CMS 4131-F and CMS 4138-IFC I am pleased to provide this guidance as an update/supplement to the Medicare Marketing Guidelines to help you implement the recently re...

The data in this brief are based on analytical files created by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) over time from publicly available Medicare Advantage data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The analysis includes Medicare Advantage plan participation and enrollment in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The brief first gives an overview of Medicare Advantage —how many beneficiaries are served by Medicare Advantage plans, what share of the total Medic...

The 2009 Call Letter contains information on the Part C, cost-based, and Part D programs combined into one document. Section A provides MA, MA-PD, and cost plan guidance; Section B provides information for prescription drug plan sponsors; Section C contains marketing-related information that applies to all plan types. Section D contains the attachments and includes important information such as calendars, crosswalks, and model marketing documents specific to the Part C, cost-based, and D progr...

Over the last several months, CMS has issued numerous formal written notices (commonly referred to as warning letters) identifying MAO contractor performance concerns, particularly related to Private Fee-for-Service marketing and agent training. CMS is aware that for some organizations the issuance of such letters is new and has raised understandable questions. The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the difference between warning letters and Corrective Action Requirement letters in the Par...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is concerned that Medicare Part D sponsors may not be completely implementing Medicare marketing guidance regarding non-English speaking and limited English proficient (LEP) beneficiaries. In this memo CMS is reiterating the marketing guidance regarding call center capabilities and printed materials for non-English speaking and LEP beneficiaries. Additionally, CMS is providing a list of call center best practices for serving these beneficiaries...