CMS MARKETING REGS Q&A

CMS released this 2014 Medicare Marketing Guidelines Questions & Responses back in July of 2013, but is a great reference tool for agents.

You can view the report HERE.

Here are some agent highlights:

  

Q: How should a Plan/Part D Sponsor

handle a request to enroll at an

educational event?

R: If a beneficiary requests to enroll at an

educational event, the Plan/Part D Sponsor

representative may provide a business card.

Please refer to MMG section 70.8.

Q: Are seminars for current members to

inform them about their benefits and

plan services considered

educational?

R: Section 70.8 states that educational events

should not discuss plan specific premiums

and/or benefits or distribute plan specific

materials. CMS recognizes the need for

Plans/Part D Sponsors to educate their current

members about their benefits and plan services.

Although these member events discuss plan

specific information, CMS does not consider

them to be true marketing/sales events.

Therefore, these events can be considered

educational. However, it is the responsibility of

the Plan/Part D Sponsor to ensure the event

conforms to all other aspects of 70.8.

Q: Can we attend events (like a Senior

Expo) where there is food available

for the attendees as long as we (the

health plan) are not the ones

providing the food?

R: Yes. As long as Plans/Part D Sponsors are not

the ones providing or subsidizing the meals.

Q: Are non-health care related products

required to be documented on a

scope of appointment?

R: Yes. Non-health care related products must be

documented on a scope of appointment form.

Plans/Part D Sponsors must follow section 160.

Q: Does the scope of appointment have

an expiration date?

R: No. The scope of appointment does not have an

expiration date, but the meeting must remain

specific to the agreed upon scope.

More great information is in the CMS report.

(This article was written by Mike Gattorna of Senior Marketing Specialists.)