CMS Provides Reminders on Key Dates in the MA-PD Application Process

Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces and the Annual Election Period for Medicare is underway. But this month also marks the start of required Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-facing activities necessary for the application process.

Regan Pennypacker, Senior Vice President of Compliance Solutions at Gorman Health Group, points out “for many MA-PD applicants, activities are already underway. Oftentimes, Sponsors do not realize that the application requires all hands on deck until it is too late. It is a multi-disciplinary effort that requires attention to detail and collaboration at all levels of the organization.”

CMS recently released the following memos, providing reminders on key dates in the application process.

Release of Notice of Intent to Apply for Contract Year 2018 Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) and Related CY 2018 Application Deadlines

CMS released information and key dates about the Contract Year (CY) 2018 Notice of Intent to Apply (NOIA) web tool and key dates for the CY 2018 Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) application cycle.

2018 Application Activity Key Dates

NOI deadline to ensure access to CMS’ HPMS……………………………………………………..November 14, 2016
CMS sends NOIA confirmation e-mails…………………………………………………………….November 30, 2016
CMS User ID connectivity form submissions must be received……………………………….December 2, 2016
CY 2018 applications posted on CMS websites…………………………………………………………January 10, 2017
Final day to submit NOIA for 2018……………………………………………………………………..January 27, 2017
CY 2018 applications submission deadline……………………………………………………………..February 15, 2017

Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) Notice of Intent to Apply for CY 2018   

CMS released information and key dates about the CY 2018 NOIA web tool and key dates for the CY 2018 MMP application cycle.

CY 2018 Application Key Dates

NOIA deadline to ensure access to CMS’ HPMS……………………………………………………..November 14, 2016
CMS sends NOIA confirmation e-mails……………………………………………………………..November 30, 2016
CMS User ID connectivity form submissions must be received by……………………………..December 2, 2016
CY 2018 applications posted on CMS websites……………………………………………………….January 10, 2017
Final day to submit NOIA for 2018……………………………………………………………………..January 27, 2017
CY 2018 applications submission deadline………………………………………………………………February 15, 2017

Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID): Year 2 (CY 2018) Request for Applications 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation also announced the release of the Medicare Advantage (MA) VBID model test’s Request for Applications (RFA) for CY 2018. MA-VBID is an opportunity for plans to offer supplemental benefits or reduced cost sharing to enrollees with certain chronic conditions. Organizations that wish to participate in the model test in 2018, including those participating in 2017, must respond to the CY 2018 RFA by January 20, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The application process is an arduous one. Completing the application requires cooperation from your entire organization. The actual submission leaves no room for error, and the review process requires quick thinking and prompt responses to CMS follow-up questions. As always, Gorman Health Group is here to assist your organization with the application process.

 

Resources

Don’t let the application process get in the way of your day-to-day operations.  Contact us today to ensure a smooth, compliant process.

New Webinar: During this webinar on November 9 at 1:30 pm ET, Regan Pennypacker, GHG’s Senior Vice President of Compliance Solutions, and Cynthia Pawley-Martin, our Senior Clinical Consultant, join Melissa Smith and Jordan Luke, the Director of Program Alignment and Partner Engagement Group at the CMS Office of Minority Health, to provide perspectives on how to implement CMS-recommended best practices in the real world within a health plan in support of Quality Improvement and Star Ratings activities as we continue focusing on providing person-centered, holistic care coordination to our members. Register now >>

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