Medicare Advantage plan (also known as “Part C”) is an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans cover Medicare Part A and Part B services, and usually prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D. These plans also may offer extra benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Medicare Part D also called the Medicare prescription drug benefit, is an optional federal-government program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs not covered under Part B through prescription drug insurance.
Medicare Advantage Coverage
Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary Part A and B services covered under Original Medicare for all enrollees. Medicare Advantage plans can also cover items and services beyond those covered by Original Medicare, such as vision, dental, and over-the-counter products, among other things. These items and services are typically referred to as “supplemental benefits.”
Medicare Advantage Cost Sharing – “Surprise Billing”
Medicare Advantage plan enrollees are generally protected from “surprise billing” which is when an enrollee receives unexpected bills from out-of-network providers. Surprise billing most commonly occurs when patients either receive care from an out-of-network provider they had reasonably assumed was in-network or received out-of-network care in an emergency when they had limited, if any, ability to choose their provider. When Medicare Advantage enrollees obtain plan-covered services (e.g., covered under the plan’s normal rules, or when an HMO arranges for or directs out of network care) in an HMO, PPO, or Regional PPO, they may not be charged or held liable for more than plan-allowed cost-sharing.
Additionally, CMS advises Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations that they may waive or reduce enrollee cost-sharing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) laboratory tests effective immediately provided that MA organizations waive or reduce cost-sharing for all plan enrollees on a uniform basis. Specifically, CMS will exercise its enforcement discretion regarding the administration of MA organizations benefit packages as approved by CMS in conjunction with implementing a voluntary waiver or reduction of cost-sharing for COVID-19 laboratory tests as described.
CMS consulted with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and OIG advised that should an MA organization choose to voluntarily waive or reduce enrollee cost-sharing for COVID-19 laboratory tests, as approved by CMS in this advisory, such waivers or reductions would satisfy the safe harbor to the Federal anti-kickback statute set forth at 42 CFR 1001.952(l). Nothing in this guidance speaks to the arrangements between MA organizations and their contracted providers or facilities.
Telehealth and other Communication Based Technology Services
Medicare Advantage plans may provide their enrollees with access to Medicare Part B services via telehealth in any geographic area and from a variety of places, including beneficiaries’ homes. With this flexibility, it is possible that beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans can receive clinically appropriate services for the treatment of COVID-19 via telehealth.
Part D Coverage
Each Part D Sponsor that offers prescription drug coverage must provide a standard level of coverage to ensure beneficiaries have adequate access to Part D drugs. Many Part D Sponsors offer plans with different levels of coverage many of which exceed CMS’s minimum requirements.
Vaccines
Under current law, once a vaccine becomes available for COVID-19, Medicare will cover the vaccine under Part D. All Part D plans will be required to cover the vaccine.
Prior Authorization
Consistent with flexibilities available to Medicare Advantage Organizations and Part D Sponsors with respect to other items and services, MAOs and Part D Sponsors may choose to waive plan prior authorization requirements that otherwise would apply to tests or services related to COVID-19. In case of any confusion related to the Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and Part D coverage and payment related to COVID-19, you can take the assistance of Medical Billers and Coders (MBC). To know more about our billing and coding services contact us at 888-357-3226/ info@medicalbillersandcoders.com
