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 71 
March 2000 

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

FROM: Mark E. Reynolds, Acting 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 Basic, 
Medex Bronze, and Medex Core, effective March 15, 2000. 

Rate Changes

The old quarterly rate, new quarterly rate, and new monthly premium for 
each Medex plan appear in the chart 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 $ 851.91 $ 936.24 $ 312.08 
Silver 663.36 729.03 243.01 
Standard 634.95 694.11 231.37 
Basic 439.29 482.76 160.92 
Bronze 331.62 334.41 111.47 
Core 176.97 194.49 64.83 

PPA Adjustments

Although the rate increase is not effective until March 15, 2000, the 
Division will allow the higher premium deduction for the PPA calculation 
as of March 1, 2000. The Division’s computer system will be updated 
with the increased rates and will recalculate the PPAs, effective March 1, 
2000, for all members receiving Medex. During the month of March 2000, 
notices containing information about the PPA changes will be mailed to 
affected members, conservators, and nursing facilities. 




MassHealth 
Long-Term-Care Facility Bulletin 71 
March 2000 
Page 2 

Questions

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