FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further Information Contact:
Desiree M. Voinche
Manager, Communications and Outreach
voinched@dfmc.org
410-872-9624

Delmarva Foundation Awarded National
Contract to Monitor Federal Prescription Drug Plan
MEDIC contractors to monitor fraud and abuse in new Part D benefit

Easton, MD, October 19, 2005 -
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently named Delmarva Foundation, Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland and the District of Columbia, as a qualified Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (MEDIC). As a MEDIC, Delmarva will be responsible for monitoring fraud, waste and abuse related to the new Medicare Prescription Drug benefit.

As part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit will allow all Medicare beneficiaries to receive prescription drug coverage. Effective on January 1, 2006, the new benefit will allow beneficiaries to choose from a variety of prescription drug plans including private prescription drug plans that offer drug-only coverage and Medicare Advantage plans that offer both prescription drug and health care coverage.

“Preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse is a major element of Delmarva Foundation’s mission and this contract will allow us to expand our efforts to the Part D prescription drug benefit,” said Maulik Joshi, DrPH, President and CEO, Delmarva Foundation. “Delmarva is honored to help protect the integrity of this important new prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.”

Delmarva was awarded the first task order released under the MEDIC statement of work, the Enrollment and Eligibility MEDIC (EEM). The EEM will support CMS’ efforts to identify, deter and combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit by monitoring and investigating any potential fraud, waste and abuse related to enrollment, eligibility, and marketing of legitimate and false Part D plans for the nation. An Optional Task under this Task Order is assuming the MEDIC Region 5 which includes southern states from Virginia to Florida as well as Puerto Rico.  The potential value of the EEM Task Order and MEDIC Region 5 is approximately $45 million over the next 5 years if Options are awarded. 

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About Delmarva Foundation
Delmarva Foundation is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality in over 20 states. Since 1973, Delmarva has assisted in improving care in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, medical practices and health plans. Delmarva performs quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, external quality review and Program Safeguard activities. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Easton, Maryland with other offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Columbia, South Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information, please visit Delmarva Foundation on the web at www.delmarvafoundation.org.