URMBT members with Medicare Plus Blue to receive fifth-level hospice services

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, or URMBT, members with Medicare Plus Blue^SM will be eligible to receive fifth-level hospice benefits. These benefits are currently offered under the Traditional Care Network (TCN) plan, which provides supplemental coverage for Medicare-eligible URMBT members.

Fifth-level hospice care benefits cover inpatient room and board in a skilled nursing facility. Members would be responsible for any deductibles or coinsurance. There’s a lifetime maximum of 210 days of coverage for fifth-level care.

The hospice agency, not the skilled nursing facility, should bill Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for room and board, using revenue code 0658. Only hospice providers are eligible for payment from Blue Cross. Hospice providers should remember to bill original Medicare for all other hospice services.

Members shouldn’t be billed directly. If you have any questions about submitting claims, see your Medicare Plus Blue PPO Manual.

For more details on fifth-level hospice services, see the hospice section of the Medicare Plus Blue PPO Manual.