Mutual of Omaha Watching You, Acupuncture, and More: 02-08-21 Meeting

There are some very interesting updates in the Medicare world this week. We cover the Social Media Monitoring Policy of one of the insurance carriers and the new Medicare stance on Acupuncture, Short-Term Health Plans..and more. Members-only can ... watch the video: As Hannah mentioned, an Outline of Coverage should be sent before the application is completed for a Medicare Supplement, in every case. Here is a reference to the California law on this -Click Here. Similar rules exist in every other state. MOO- watching agent social media posts Anything that is interpreted as offensive/discriminatory can result in the agent’s contract being canceled and commissions being terminated. If it’s an employee of the agent or agency, the agent or agency will be held accountable. See the policy here: https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/express/index.php/2021/02/01/important-notice/ There is a new Mutual of Omaha E-App Guide.. see it here: https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/express/files/2021/02/466723_MedSupp_eAppGuide_100820.pdf Short-Term Health Plans: Agents Beware (Underwritten at time of claim) “Other Trump rollbacks that would come out of CMS could take more time. Biden has also instructed his administration to reverse Trump’s expansion of short-term health care plans, which typically don’t cover preexisting conditions and so-called association health plans that let businesses band together to purchase coverage. Democrats see both plans as an end-run around the ACA and its coverage rules.” https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/key-flaws-of-short-term-health-plans-pose-risks-to-consumers https://www.insurance.wa.gov/what-you-need-know-about-short-term-medical-plans https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/heres-what-trump-era-health-policies-biden-could-roll-back-without-help/592912/ Acupuncture: “You’ll also be happy to know that last January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that original Medicare will now cover up to 12 acupuncture sessions in 90 days for patients with chronic lower back pain. Eight additional sessions can be added if patients show improvement. But in order to receive Medicare coverage, you must use a licensed acupuncturist who is supervised by a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner trained in acupuncture, who will need to process the acupuncture claim. Currently, licensed acupuncturists can’t directly bill Medicare. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/acupuncture To find an acupuncturist in your area, ask your doctor for a referral, or you can do a search online. Two good resources are the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists, which offers a directory of MDs and DOs who are certified to practice acupuncture. https://www.nccaom.org/find-a-practitioner-directory/

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