The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the first patient experience of care star ratings on Home Health Compare. Known as Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) Survey star ratings, these measures evaluate patients’ experiences with home health agencies.
Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans receive sanction from CMS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an immediate suspension of enrollment and marketing activities for Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans on January 21, 2016. The immediate intermediate sanctions against enrollment and marketing activities to Cigna, HealthSpring, and Bravo Health Medicare Advantage plans sold in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. The CMS sanctions were imposed on Medicare Advantage medical plan which include prescription drug coverage also known as MA-PDs.
New Medicare providers for Anthem Blue Cross plans
Anthem Blue Cross Medicare members will have more provider choices. This is especially exciting as we introduce our NEW Anthem MediBlue Plus and Select plans [Medicare Advantage], which are available throughout AEP 2016.
Evidence of Billing delayed for Blue Shield Medicare plans
We are writing to advise you that some Blue Shield Medicare Advantage HMO members have not received their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for medical or hospital services (Part C) for June, July, August, or September of this year, which includes their total out-of-pocket expenses to date.
Cal INDEX enrollment for Blue Shield Medicare plans
We will be notifying all Blue Shield 65 Plus (HMO), Blue Shield 65 Plus Choice Plan (HMO) and Blue Shield Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members by mail of their automatic enrollment in Cal INDEX. The notification letter explains the purpose and value of Cal INDEX, its privacy practices, and the opt-out process.
Medicare 2016 Part B premium and deductible to increase
Beneficiaries not subject to the “hold harmless” provision will pay $121.80, as calculated reflecting the provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law by President Obama last week. Medicare Part B beneficiaries not subject to the “hold-harmless” provision are those not collecting Social Security benefits, those who will enroll in Part B for the first time in 2016, dual eligible beneficiaries who have their premiums paid by Medicaid, and beneficiaries who pay an additional income-related premium. These groups account for about 30 percent of the 52 million Americans expected to be enrolled in Medicare Part B in 2016.
Torrance Health IPA added to Blue Shield Medicare plans
Torrance Health IPA (THIPA) was inadvertently omitted from Blue Shield’s 2016 Provider Directory for Blue Shield 65 Plus (HMO) in Los Angeles County.
Medicare Advantage plans by county and state for 2016
Every year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) produces spreadsheets with mountains of data on Medicare Advantage medical plans and the Part D Prescription drug plans. In addition to a detailed review of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and the forty-seven different measurements, CMS also catalogs all the available MA-PDs and PDPs in what are called Landscape Source files.
Medicare 2015 End Stage Renal Disease eligibility training
The lessons in this module, “Medicare for People With End-Stage Renal Disease,” explain the Medicare program for people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It includes information on eligibility and enrollment, coverage, health plan options, and provides additional sources of information.
Covered California clarifies Medicare questions for individuals
If you are enrolled in Medicare, you do not need to do anything with Covered California. If you have Medicare you are covered. No matter how you receive your Medicare benefits, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will have the same benefits and security you have now. You will receive new benefits, such as more preventive services and increased savings on brand-name drugs.