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- MEDICARE PART D UPDATE
- The Fourth Annual Leadership Conference: Mains’l
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NYSACRA News & Views |
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Issue No. 36-06 |
September 25, 2006 |
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Greetings NYSACRA Members! |
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MEDICARE PART D UPDATE
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Information received from OMRDD indicates that CMS plans changes
for the forthcoming 2007 Prescription Drug Plan [PDP] that will
result in automatic plan reassignments effective January 1, 2007.
PLAN TERMINATION
If a PDP drops out of the Part D program, CMS will reassign the
individuals who are full or partial subsidy eligible, to a new
plan effective January 1, 2007. Dual eligibles [those with
Medicaid and Medicare] are full subsidy eligible. Reassignment
letters will be sent out in early November on blue paper.
PREMIUM CHANGES
If a PDP's monthly premium cost does not increase by more than $2
over the benchmark cost for 2007, full subsidy eligible people
will be allowed to stay in the same PDP and will continue with no
monthly premium for the plan. These individuals will not get a
special letter from CMS.
If a PDP's monthly premium increases by more than $2 over the
benchmark cost for 2007, CMS will issue a reassignment letter only
if the person meets the following criteria: the person remains
full subsidy eligible for 2007 and the person was auto assigned to
a plan in 2006 and remained in the same plan. This letter will
also be on blue paper and mailed early in November.
Please note that this means any dual eligible who elected a new
benchmark plan in 2006 over the original auto assigned plan, will
not automatically be reassigned to a new benchmark plan if the
current plan's monthly premium increases by more than $2 over the
benchmark for 2007. They will be liable for the extra premium cost
or can avoid extra charges by switching to another fully
subsidized benchmark plan.
Individuals should carefully read their Annual Notice of Change
letters from their plans. We will share the benchmark plan
information as soon as it is available. |
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The Fourth
Annual Leadership Conference: Mains’l
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On October 20th, 2006, NYSACRA will host our Fourth Annual
Leadership Conference, “Leadership and Innovation for the Future”
in Saratoga. In addition to the two morning keynote addresses,
there will be six breakout workshops from which to choose in the
afternoon. Leading up to the event, we will provide a special
focus on some of the workshops in our News & Views. It’s a well
known fact that creating a stable direct support workforce is
imperative to our industry. “How to Build the Best Workforce”
features three executive directors who have gone the extra mile in
studying and implementing unique approaches to our workforce
crisis. In addition to having Regis Obijiski from New Horizons
Resources and Peter Smergut from Life’s WORC who will share their
agency’s experiences in workforce activities, we are pleased to
introduce Tony Thomas, Executive Director of Welcome House in
Ohio. Mr. Thomas is also the Co-Chair of the National Alliance of
Direct Support Professionals and he will provide the framework of
the NADSP’s model for a national credential for direct support
professionals. Don’t miss it! |
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