Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Mid-April LinkFest: Gummint Edition

From our "Medicare Guy," Jack Cheevers, some interesting Medicare info:

■ First, Medicare spanks Aetna for its handling of drug benefits:

"Aetna was served with the intermediate sanction notice because it has continued to improperly administer the Medicare drug benefit in the plan’s national standalone prescription drug plan (PDP) and its 25 Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) contracts. Approximately 400,000 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in the organization’s MA-PD plans and another 600,000 are enrolled in the Aetna PDP."

The problems cited include a failure to meet Medicare’s "transition requirements ... Improperly processing coverage determinations and expedited appeal requests in cases where delays would jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee .. [and] ... Failing to take timely and proper steps to ensure that enrollees are eligible for the Part D low-income subsidy."

The good news is that this is an "intermediate sanction;" presuming that Aetna cleans up its act, they'll be back on the prowl for new enrollees.

■ An updated Medicare website is now online:

"The improved Web site provides users with a summary of Medicare benefits, coverage options, rights and protections, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare."

Why not take it for a test-drive?

[Hat Tip: "CMS Guy" Jack Cheevers]

■ And from the Web, this link has up-to-date info on how one state is attempting to deal with ObamaCare©.
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