[Nfbmo] Letter from DSS

[NJ Lynn]

I got this from an MCB list and thought you'd want to see it too.
Hi Everybody:

I want to alert everybody of a letter that was sent today by DSS to 
recipients
of blind pension regarding use of Medicare Part D.  Below is the text of 
letter.
DSS coordinated the initiation of this program and the letter directly with 
MCB
along with other key members of blind organizations in Missouri.  Also, 
there
will be representatives from Mo Healthnet at our upcoming convention to 
discuss
these matters further and take your questions.

All the best,

Chris

--------------

September 23, 2014


Dear Blind Pension Participant:

State budget spending restrictions on medical costs for blind pension
participants require the Department of Social Services to work with you so 
that
if you are enrolled in Medicare, your prescription costs will be paid by a
Medicare Part D benchmark plan before they are paid by the State. Medicare 
Part
D benchmark plans are prescription drug plans that offer coverage at or 
below a
federally-established premium amount and are typically large, national 
plans.

What do you need to do?
1. If you are enrolled in Medicare and not enrolled in a Medicare Part D
plan, you will receive additional information from the Department of Social
Services (DSS) in the next couple of weeks on how to enroll in a Medicare 
Part D
benchmark plan during open enrollment (October 15 through December 7) and 
how to
send enrollment information to the DSS.
2. If you are enrolled in Medicare and enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan,
you should select a Medicare Part D benchmark plan during open enrollment
(October 15 through December 7) to continue your Medicare Part D coverage. 
In
the next couple of weeks DSS will provide you with information on where to 
send
your Medicare Part D enrollment information.
3. If you are enrolled in Medicare and have employer-sponsored or other
third-party insurance other than Blind Pension MO HealthNet, you do not need 
to
enroll in a Part D plan. In the next couple of weeks DSS will send you a 
form
asking you to provide information on your employer-sponsored or other
third-party coverage.
How does enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan change your prescription costs?
MO HealthNet Division will pay all monthly premiums, deductibles, copayments 
and
coinsurance associated with coverage under the benchmark plan.

You will not pay additional money for prescriptions with this change. You 
will
have two cards to present to the pharmacist: your Medicare Part D card and 
your
MO HealthNet card.

Beginning January 2015, the Medicare Part D benchmark plan will pay for your
prescription drugs.

MO HealthNet may cover outpatient prescription drugs not covered under the
benchmark plan, or work with the plan to help with necessary prior
authorizations based on your plan rules.

Who can I contact to ask questions about this change?
In the next couple of weeks you will receive information in the mail from 
the
Department of Social Services on how to enroll in a Medicare Part D 
benchmark
plan or how to provide information to DSS on your Medicare Part D benchmark 
plan
or employer-sponsored/other third-party plan. For general questions related 
to
this change, you can send an email to PartDQuestions at dss.mo.gov or call
toll-free 1-855-731-0022.