Government
Medicare lifts sanctions on WellPoint
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 21, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a Sept. 9 letter to WellPoint informing the insurer that it once again could, on Nov. 15, begin enrolling beneficiaries in its Medicare drug plans and private health plans for the 2010 contract year. WellPoint may resume marketing for the programs effective Oct. 1.
CMS told WellPoint in January it was suspended from enrolling beneficiaries in Part D and Medicare Advantage, and from issuing any marketing materials about the programs, because it had "demonstrated a longstanding and persistent failure to comply with requirements for proper administration" of the plans. Internal problems had led to a number of beneficiaries incorrectly being denied access to medications, CMS found.
CMS said WellPoint prescription drug offerings will not be included among the plans into which some low-income subsidy recipients are enrolled automatically.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/gvbf0921.htm.
