Medicare Advantage plans need to tread carefully when they enter the health care reform debate.
According to the blog Medicare Update, Humana sent a letter to Medicare beneficiaries which alleges the current health care reform bill could cause "millions of seniors and disabled individuals [to] lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable," and invites them to join Humana's Partners program.
Humana's mailer to Medicare Advantage patients.
CMS took issue with what it calls misleading content of the letter and the fact that the envelope claims it contains important information about the recipient's Medicare Advantage benefits. CMS warned Humana the mailing could violate "federal regulations and guidance for the MA and Part D programs and other federal law, including HIPAA." The agency instructed Humana to stop sending letters and remove related information from its website. A check confirms that this is all that remains of the Humana Partner Program website.
CMS's letter to Humana.