CMS imposes sanctions against Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) informed Cigna-HealthSpring that it's imposing intermediate sanctions
on 22 Medicare Advantage (MA), MA-prescription drug (PD) and prescription drug plan (PDP) contracts. This takes effect immediately,
suspending their ability to market to or to enroll Medicare clients. This
sanction is due to systemic violations uncovered during an October 2015
program audit, which CMS determined posed, or has the
likelihood to pose, an immediate threat to the health and safety of its
enrollees.
In Washington state, Cigna has two stand-alone
Part D plans: Cigna HealthSpring Rx Secure and Cigna HealthSpring Rx
Secure-Extra. Sanctions mean that the plan cannot:
- Make any new enrollments
- Market their plans
As well, the plans will not show up on the Medicare Plan
Finder.
If clients are enrolled in these plans and are experiencing
problems, they can contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. On a case-by-case basis, they may be allowed
a Special Enrollment Period to change plans.
|
