CMS on May 8 proposed enhanced protections for beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans and Medicare prescription drug plans. CMS’s actions are intended to strengthen marketing standards and extend additional protections to all beneficiaries, including those receiving the low-income subsidy (LIS) and beneficiaries enrolled in special needs plans. It also would introduce several new MA and prescription drug plan requirements.
Among other provisions, the proposed plan marketing standards would prohibit cold-calling and expand the current prohibition on door-to-door solicitation, prohibit sales activities at educational events such as health information fairs, and require MA organizations to use state-licensed agents to market MA and Part D plans.
The rule also would grant CMS greater flexibility in determining penalty amounts against Medicare Advantage or Part D plans that violate Medicare rules in ways that adversely affect beneficiaries.
Comments are due by July 15, 2008. Read the proposed rule.
