CMS Takes Action Against WellPoint Rx Benefit Medicare Plans
On Monday, CMS informed WellPoint that it would be barred from adding new members to its Medicare plans because the insurer denied prescription drugs to members, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.
According to the government, WellPoint blocked some members of its Medicare plans from receiving needed prescription drugs and overcharged some members because of computer mistakes (Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times, 1/13).
CMS' action applies to Medicare plans and Medicare drug benefit plans that WellPoint offers.
WellPoint Reaction
WellPoint said that internal compliance audits and a recent CMS audit discovered the issues being addressed. The insurer said it has made "significant progress" in addressing the problems.
WellPoint has about 1.3 million members enrolled in Medicare plans and about 1.9 million members enrolled in Medicare drug benefit plans (Dorman, Dow Jones, 1/13).
WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California, the stateâs largest for-profit health insurer (Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times, 1/13). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.