CMS Changes Low-Income Rate Rules

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be making it easier for some Medicare drug plan vendors to offer discounts for poor beneficiaries.

Plans may be able to cut premiums for some individuals eligible for the Medicare Part D “low-income subsidy” in markets in which there otherwise would be fewer than 5 prescription drug plan sponsors with a “zero-premium” plan option for low-income beneficiaries, CMS officials say.