Up-Coming Correspondence of Concern to Beneficiaries of Medicaid Part D

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) are working together to conduct a number of activities in the coming months related to Part D low-income subsidy status and enrollment in plans. SSA is now mailing notices to people who applied for and received the low-income subsidy in 2006 to help determine whether they still qualify for 2007. A sample letter (Form: SSA-L1026) can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/.

For people who are no longer a full-benefit dual-eligible, partial dual-eligible (Medicare Savings Program participant), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient, their automatic LIS eligibility will end on December 31, 2006. Starting in mid-September, CMS will mail these individuals a letter that explains their pending loss of LIS eligibility and includes an SSA application for them to complete and return in an enclosed postage-paid envelope. CMS is also sending a letter to individuals who continue to qualify for the LIS in 2007, but will have a change in their co-pay level from 2006 to 2007. Deemed beneficiaries whose LIS status for 2007 is remaining unchanged will receive no letter.

A copy of the timeline for the various communications that will be sent to beneficiaries, along with a background document that further explains the issues that some beneficiaries may be facing over the next few months, can be obtained by contacting Jack Quigley at the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) at Jack.Quigley@dmas.virginia.gov.