Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Division of Medical Assistance
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111

MassHealth
Long-Term-Care Facility Bulletin 67
February 1999

TO:      Nursing Facilities, Chronic Disease and Rehabilitation Inpatient Hospitals, and Rest
Homes Participating in MassHealth

FROM:      Bruce M. Bullen, Commissioner

RE:      MEDEX PREMIUM RATE INCREASE

Background                       Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts has received approval from the Division of Insurance to increase premium rates for all of its nongroup Medex plans:  Medex Gold, Medex Silver, Medex Standard, Medex Bronze, and Medex Core effective March 15, 1999.

Rate Changes                    The old quarterly rate, new quarterly rate, and new monthly premium for each Medex plan appear below.  The new monthly premium is the amount allowed as a patient-paid amount (PPA) deduction.  Fees for special billing arrangements that cause a premium to exceed these amounts are not allowable PPA deductions.

MEDEX PLAN

OLD QUARTERLY RATE

NEW QUARTERLY RATE

NEW MONTHLY PREMIUM

Gold                       $      775.17             $       851.91           $     283.97
Silver                             603.63                      663.36                  221.12
Standard                       583.08                      634.95                  211.65
Basic                              399.72                      439.29                  146.43
Bronze                           318.06                      331.62                  110.54
Core                               170.31                      176.97                    58.99

PPA Adjustments               Although the rate increase is not effective until March 15, 1999, the Division will allow the higher premium deduction for the PPA calculation as of March 1, 1999.  The Division’s computer system will be updated wth
the increased rates and will recalculate PPAs, effective March 1, 1999, for all members receiving Medex.  During the month of March 1999, notices containing information about the PPA changes will be mailed to affected members, conservators, and nursing facilities.

MassHealth
Long-Term-Care Facility Bulletin 67
February 1999
Page 2

Questions                         Questions about this bulletin should be directed to the MassHealth Policy
Hotline at (617) 210-5331.