CMS Will Now Require Pricing for Some Benzodiazepines and Barbituates in WCMSAs

On April 8, 2013, CMS issued the following notice concerning Benzodiazepines and Barbituates:

On October 2, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum to Part D Sponsors concerning the transition to Part D Coverage of Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates beginning in 2013.

Effective June 1, 2013, all  Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) proposals submitted to CMS for a review of the adequacy of the proposal amount are to include the pricing of benzodiazepines and barbiturates, where appropriate. 

Please note that WCMSA cases submitted to CMS  before June 1, 2013, closed due to missing, incomplete and/or inadequate supporting documentation (or any  other reason), and subsequently re-opened after June 1, 2013, will also be subject to a review that includes the pricing of benzodiazepines and barbiturates.

The official notice from CMS can be found at:
www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coordination-of-Benefits/WorkersCompAgencyServices/index.html