Browse Advisory Opinions

Regarding a laboratory's proposal to provide services consisting of the labeling of test tubes and specimen collection containers at no cost to dialysis facilities.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby an insurance company would indirectly contract with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for its policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding a local health care district's proposal to cooperate with another district to jointly fund the cost of a transportation coordinator to educate patients about local transportation options and subsidize certain forms of transportation for patients with financial need.

Regarding a proposal to install a computerized point-of-care vaccine storage and dispensing system in physicians' offices for the physicians' use.

Regarding an arrangement in which a hospice would make a supplemental payment to the nursing facilities in which the hospice's dually eligible patients reside when the nursing facilities-instead of the hospice-receive payment for their patients' room and board expenses.

Concerning a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization's proposal to provide financially-needy patients with grants to defray their cost-sharing obligations for drugs and/or devices to treat brain tumors and conditions incident to brain tumors.

Regarding a savings card program under which individuals who have prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D receive discounts on a drug that is statutorily excluded from coverage.

Regarding a proposal by a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization to provide assistance with cost-sharing obligations to financially needy individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Regarding your proposal for an entity to purchase the remaining five percent ownership interest in a group purchasing organization.

Regarding the use of a “preferred hospital” network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (“Medigap”) policies, whereby [name redacted] would indirectly contract with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for its policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby three insurance companies would indirectly contract with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for their policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding a proposal by a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization to subsidize Medicare Part D premium and cost-sharing obligations owed by financially needy patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies.

regarding a state academic medical center that in certain circumstances offers pregnant women: (1) transportation aid to and from the campus hospital for delivery; and (2) short-term lodging near the campus hospital.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby [names redacted] (the "Requestors") would indirectly contract with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for their policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding a proposal by a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization to provide financial assistance to cover cost-sharing obligations associated with outpatient drug treatment owed by financially needy Medicare or Medicaid patients with a certain disease state.

Concerning a patient assistance program that assists underinsured patients with their prescription drug co-payment obligations.

Concerning grants provided by a nonprofit, charitable organization to financially-needy patients suffering from specific chronic or life-threatening diseases to defray the costs of prescription drug therapies.

Regarding a nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization's proposal to provide assistance with out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient prescription drugs to financially needy insured patients, including, but not limited to, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Regarding a non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization's proposal to provide financial assistance with copayment obligations, health insurance premiums, and insurance deductibles to patients, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, receiving treatment for [disease state redacted].