CMS taps Maximus for Medicare card program support

Maximus Inc. has won a $5.4 million contract from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support the agency's new Medicare pharmacy discount drug card program, the company announced Monday.

Under the contract, Maximus will serve as the sole national reconsideration contractor for the federal agency's Medicare pharmacy discount drug card program.

Maximus will administer a program to reconsider the eligibility of beneficiaries who apply for the drug card, but who are determined ineligible for either the drug card or transitional assistance.

Those beneficiaries who are denied eligibility will have a right for reconsideration by Maximus. Requests can be made in writing or through a Maximus call center. The company will conduct a full reconsideration of the beneficiary's application and, based on Medicare rules, will either uphold or overturn the eligibility denial.

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 established the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program. The program is providing assistance with prescription drug costs to Medicare beneficiaries during 2004 and 2005 while preparations are made for the implementation of a full Medicare Drug Benefit (Medicare Part D) in 2006.

Maximus provides program management, consulting and information technology services to state and local government. The company has 5,500 employees and annual sales of $558.3 million, according to Hoover's Online of Austin, Texas.