News Briefs: House Committee Advances Bill Requiring Electronic Prior Authorization in MA
CMS at press time unveiled substantive changes to its Medicare Parts C and D enrollee grievances, organization/coverage determinations and appeals guidance. Effective immediately, the Aug. 3 memo from the Medicare Enrollment and Appeals Group contained numerous redlined edits to the guidance for Medicare Advantage organizations, Prescription Drug Plans, Cost plans, Medicare-Medicaid Plans and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. These included guidance on ensuring that enrollees with limited English proficiency have the same level of access to plan representatives and information regarding initial determinations, appeals, and grievances as those who are proficient in English; new specifications regarding plan delivery of notifications; detailed procedures when an initial determination request is withdrawn; and a clarification that a non-contracted provider who has furnished a service to an enrollee may request that an organization determination be reconsidered by the plan.