government
Aetna faces Medicare sanction
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 19, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says Aetna no longer will be allowed to enroll new beneficiaries in its Medicare drug plans unless it fixes some deficiencies.
The intermediate sanction is effective April 21 and will prevent Aetna from marketing to and signing up new enrollees. CMS said Aetna has continued to administer the Medicare drug benefit improperly in its national drug plan and through its 25 Medicare Advantage drug contracts. The deficiencies included improperly processing coverage determinations and expedited appeal requests. Aetna said compliance problems are unacceptable and that it is cooperating fully with CMS to resolve the issue.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/04/19/gvbf0419.htm.
