Expertise & Administrative Support for Maximum Subsidy Payments

Subsidy Applications – Actuarial Attestations – Reporting Requirements

Subsidy Payment Requests – Final Reconciliation – Individual Communications

NEWS FOR ALL EMPLOYERS:

GAO Report Finds: Private Fee-for-Service Plans Experiencing High Disenrollment Rates (Updated 12/17/08)
Full Article

The Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy Faces Increased Scrutiny:
Read more about upcoming CMS audits and the steps you can take to prepare at the link below.  (Updated 10/8/08)
Full Article

Third Party Administrator Alliance (TPAA) Makes Part D Advisors a Preferred Partner
"We're committed to giving our members access to the best in the business, and Part D Advisors passed the test.  I don't know of anyone else who provides the 'soup to nuts' service they do, and certainly no one who does it as well.  I am pleased to have them on the TPAA team." - TPAA President Mark Oelschalger  (Updated 10/1/08)
Read the Full Article at www.TheTPAA.com

Retiree Health Plans: A National Assessment
Retiree health benefits vary greatly across the country.  This article provides a state by state evaluation of eligibility requirements, benefits and policies regarding Medicare enrollment.  Summaries of state benefits include costs to retirees, employers and the state.  For further information please follow the link below. (Updated 9/25/08)
Center for State and Local Government Excellence

CMS Overpayment Updates: Further information regarding what constitutes overpayment status and what action you should take if you have recieved an overpayment notice.  (Updated 9/22/08)
CMS Announcement

CMS Reminder: Attention! Appeals of applications in 2008 do not affect your ability to apply for the next plan year. (Updated 8/29/08)
CMS Announcement

CMS Announcement: CMS announces a proposed rule to require health care providers to shift to a new, greatly expanded health care coding system beginning October 2011.
(Updated 8/19/08)
CMS Announcement

Article: Researchers Find First Year of Benefit Resulted in Lower Drug Prices for Enrollees (Updated 8/13/08)
View Article

CMS Announcement: CMS Working on Managed Care, Drug Rules For Private Plan Packages (Updated 8/1/08)
CMS Announcement

CMS Issuing OVERPAYMENT STATUS notices via email: (Updated 7/3/08)
The RDS will be notifying Plan Sponsors of thier overpayment status via email.  It is very important that junk mail and spam filters allow emails from: rdspayment@cms.hhs.gov.  Losing these emails or having them blocked by an email filter is not an excuse for failing to send a check or money order to the RDS.     
Sample Overpayment Email and Overpayment Status Emails

CMS Announcement: (Updated 6/12/08)
The importance of having an accurate Covered Retiree List has prompted the RDS to allow Reconciliation steps 3 and 4 to be changed to an "Incomplete Status."
Making Changes to a Covered Retiree List

CMS Reminder: (Updated 6/12/08)
Details for the revisions to the rebate reporting policies of the RDS and dates of applicability.
Rebate Reporting Reminder and Modifications to Applicability Dates

CMS Announcement: (Updates 6/10/08)
The CMS has revised thier guidance on reporting rebates.
Revised Guidance on Reporting Rebates

CMS Announcement: (Updated 6/4/08)
Contains new information on your RDS application and reporting of rebates.
Follow the link for the full text of the announcement.
Reporting Rebates

CMS Release: (Updated 6/12/08 originally released 5/30/08)
This release contains guidance on the Actuarial Equivalence Standard as well as tips on qualifying covered retirees.
Updated Guidance on RDS Topics 

CMS Announcement: (Updated 5/22/08)
This announcement outlines critical information to help RDS Plan Sponsors meet thier Reconciliation deadlines.
CMS Announcement for RDS Plan Sponsors

CMS Announcement: (Updated 5/19/08)
This announcement contains helpful information regarding proposed revisions to RDS regulations.  Follow the link below for the full release.
Proposed Revisions to RDS Regulations

CMS Reconciliation Deadline Extension: (Updated 4/8/08)
The CMS' RDS Center announced the extension of many Plan Sponsors' reconciliation deadlines. Click below for more information: 
CMS Reconciliation Deadline Extension

CMS Issues Final Reconciliation Rules: (Updated 6/12/08 originally released 4/8/08)
The CMS published guidelines regarding completing the RDS reconciliation, including some helpful Q&As. Click below for a copy of the CMS guidlines:
How To Complete RDS Reconciliation

CMS' FAQ: (Updated 4/3/08)
Follow the link for a list of frequently asked questions on a wide range of issues.
Medicare FAQ