By: Susan Heard, SPHR

Reminder: January 1 Health Plans Must Submit On-Line Creditable Coverage Disclosure Forms to CMS by March 1, 2013

Group health plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage must disclose to CMS on an annual basis no later than 60 days after the beginning of the plan year.  For January 1 plan years, the deadline is March 1, 2013.

This requirement applies to all plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage, even those that do not make coverage available to retirees. This is a separate requirement from the Creditable Coverage letters you distributed by October 15, 2012.

The disclosure is required whether the prescription coverage is creditable or non-creditable. The Creditable Coverage Disclosure to CMS Form can be found on the CMS website. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/CreditableCoverage/CCDisclosureForm.html

Before you log on, you should have on hand:                                                                   

1. The number of Medicare Part D eligible employees enrolled in the Plan, and
2. The date you sent out the Creditable /Non-creditable Coverage notices last fall.