An employee group is miffed by the new Postal Service insurance program’s Medicare Part D coverage

  An employee group is miffed by the new Postal Service insurance program’s Medicare Part D coverage

"...OPM said that they were restricted in how they provide prescription drug benefits to Medicare-eligible enrollees in the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program, but at least one employee association disagrees. ...The first Open Season in which postal workers can elect their coverage for next year runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 9.

In a last-minute tweak to regulations governing the program and its implementation this fall, the Office of Personnel Management published a final rule in the Federal Register last week clarifying provisions governing reconsideration of eligibility decisions, the law’s Medicare Part B enrollment requirement and integrating the Medicare Part D prescription drug program into PSHBP.

That last provision is the source of this week’s controversy. OPM’s rule states that, unlike in FEHBP, Congress intentionally funneled Medicare-eligible postal workers and retirees into insurance coverage that includes a Medicare Part D employer group waiver plan, or EGWP

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“While the PSHB is included under the FEHB Program umbrella, PSHB is subject to distinct statutory requirements, including those governing the requirement to offer a PDP EGWP and to integrate Medicare Part D benefits,” OPM wrote. “When enacting the PSRA, Congress was addressing specific policy goals, including increasing enrollment in Medicare by USPS annuitants and promoting long-term financial health for the PSHB program, which require certain variances from policies that are generally applicable in the FEHB program.”"

Reference: www.govexec.com