Opportunity to Review and Comment on the Updated Manual for State Payment of Medicare Premiums (formerly “State Buy-in Manual”) by February 29, 2020

Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a draft Manual for State Payment of Medicare Premiums (formerly called “State Buy-in Manual”) to states and other stakeholders for review and comment. The draft manual updates information and instructions to states on federal policy, operations, and systems concerning the payment of Medicare Parts A and B premiums (or buy-in) for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The manual update is part of CMS’s Better Care for Dual Eligibles Strategic Initiative aimed at improving quality, reducing costs, and improving customer experiences.

States pay Medicare Part B premiums each month for over 10 million individuals and Part A premium for over 700,000 individuals. This process promotes access to Medicare coverage for low-income older adults and people with disabilities, and it helps states ensure that Medicare pays primary to Medicaid for its dually eligible beneficiaries. Despite the importance of this process, federal guidance on buy-in is out of date. The draft manual reflects current statute, regulation, operations, and systems changes that have evolved over time. Additionally, the draft manual re-organizes content to make it easier for states to discern federal requirements and find information.

• Draft Manual for State Payment of Medicare Premiums

We are welcoming comments through 5:00 p.m. EST on February 29, 2020.