2010 Marketing Guidelines Could Improve Communications

With the recently released 2010 CMS Marketing Guidelines, and the current AHIP conference, here’s one of guidelines that caught my eye: 

All plan sponsors that mail information to Medicare beneficiaries, prospective or enrolled, should include one of the three statements on any envelope or the mailing itself (if no envelope is being sent) that they are sending to Medicare beneficiaries regardless of the materials inside of the envelope. One of the three statements on the outside of the envelope or mailing itself should best fit the information being sent to the Medicare beneficiary which are:

1. Advertising pieces – "This is an advertisement;"

2. Plan information – "Important plan information about your enrollment; and

3. Health – "Health or wellness or prevention information."

On the surface, this sounds like an increase in cost. We’re confident that some planning can avoid that, and perhaps even create a way to reduce costs in the overall mailing piece, or improve the overall communication with prospects and enrollees.

I’m looking forward to continuing to discuss this and other CMS rulings throughout the week.

Note: The specific part of the guidelines referenced is section 50.6 - Plan Sponsor Mailing Statements on Envelopes/Mailing Itself.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Pam Argeris is a thought leader in the Healthcare Industry and possesses extensive, hands-on experience with CMS compliance, and multiple regulatory bodies such as NCQA, JACHO, and DOI. In her role at Merrill Corp., Pam focuses on developing solutions for compliance and quality assurance, delivered in a cost effective manner to improve beneficiary and prospect communications. You can contact Pam at Pamela.Argeris@merrillcorp.com.