Reminder – Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA): What you need to know

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA): What you need to know

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory law that Aetna selling partners are obligated to comply with, in addition to CMS Medicare Marketing Guidelines.

What is TCPA?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and other laws regulate telemarketing calls to consumers using automated systems.

In essence, “telemarketing” refers to all forms of telemarketing subject to state or federal regulation, including but not limited to telemarketing as regulated under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 43 U.S.C. §227. This includes use of automatic telephone dialing systems, artificial or prerecorded voice messages, SMS text messages, and fax machines, as well as live calls that may be subject to any applicable law, regulation, or ordinance limiting; for example, the hours of such calls or contacting persons on any “do not call” registry. (See URL information below.?

Under TCPA, if uplines or producers engage in telemarketing with respect to any Aetna Medicare products or services, they must:

  • Maintain a Do Not Call list for their organization, with supporting documented procedures that ensures that their organization scrubs all phone numbers against federal, state and internal do not call lists in accordance with applicable law
  • Maintain records regarding compliance with call abandonment rates in accordance with all telemarketing laws and regulations that now or hereafter govern telemarketing
  • Not use any telephone number(s) to engage in telemarketing obtained without legally sufficient consent of the recipient (e.g., telephone numbers obtained via a third-party)

TCPA rules and regulations apply to outbound telephone calls to or from any individual or entity with respect to marketing any Aetna Medicare products. Therefore, Aetna-contracted selling partners must comply with all federal, state and municipal laws, regulations and administrate guidance pertaining to:

  • The recording and/or monitoring of telephone calls
  • Audible notice requirements regarding the recordation and/or monitoring of telephone calls (including notifying such individual or entity at the inception of the call that such calls will be recorded and monitored)
  • Obtaining consent at the inception of such to the recordation and/or monitoring of telephone calls
  • The storage, privacy, security and destruction of any recorded phone calls

To access the DNC Registry, go to www.telemarketing.donotcall.gov. To learn more, the FTC maintains a FAQ website for telemarketers at https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/qa-telemarketers-sellers-about-dnc-provisions-tsr.

How to stay compliant
We offer a number of resources, available on Producer World, to help you stay compliant. In addition to the CMS Medicare Marketing Guidelines, use items below:

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the Aetna Medicare Broker Services Department at 1-866-714-9301 or brokersupport@aetna.com.
 

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA): What you need to know
 

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