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Bad news for LTCI? Tipped off about this by Ron Iverson's NAMSMAP newsletter today.
On Feb. 1, CMS released proposed changes for the Medicare health and drug programs in 2019 that increase flexibility in Medicare Advantage that will allow more options and new benefits to Medicare beneficiaries...
From the CMS release (link below):
As a part of these changes, CMS is redefining health-related supplemental benefits to include services that increase health and improve quality of life, including coverage of non-skilled in-home supports, portable wheelchair ramps and other assistive devices and modifications when patients need them.
"Our priority is to ensure that our seniors have more choices and lower premiums in their Medicare health and drug plans," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. "We are focused on addressing the specific needs of beneficiaries and providing new flexibilities for Medicare Advantage plans to offer new health-related benefits. This is a big win for patients."
CMS has previously not allowed an item or service to be eligible as a supplemental benefit if the primary purpose included daily maintenance. Under the new policy announced today, CMS would allow supplemental benefits if they compensate for physical impairments, diminish the impact of injuries or health conditions, and/or reduce avoidable emergency room utilization.
So CMS is going to start allowing MA plans to offer some LTCI-type benefits?
2018-02-01 - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
On Feb. 1, CMS released proposed changes for the Medicare health and drug programs in 2019 that increase flexibility in Medicare Advantage that will allow more options and new benefits to Medicare beneficiaries...
From the CMS release (link below):
As a part of these changes, CMS is redefining health-related supplemental benefits to include services that increase health and improve quality of life, including coverage of non-skilled in-home supports, portable wheelchair ramps and other assistive devices and modifications when patients need them.
"Our priority is to ensure that our seniors have more choices and lower premiums in their Medicare health and drug plans," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. "We are focused on addressing the specific needs of beneficiaries and providing new flexibilities for Medicare Advantage plans to offer new health-related benefits. This is a big win for patients."
CMS has previously not allowed an item or service to be eligible as a supplemental benefit if the primary purpose included daily maintenance. Under the new policy announced today, CMS would allow supplemental benefits if they compensate for physical impairments, diminish the impact of injuries or health conditions, and/or reduce avoidable emergency room utilization.
So CMS is going to start allowing MA plans to offer some LTCI-type benefits?
2018-02-01 - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
