CMS Proposes MA and Drug Plan Payment and Policy Updates.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued an Advance Rate Notice and draft Call Letter proposing policy and payment updates to the Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Programs.
Proposed changes, which seek to encourage payment to providers based on quality of patient care rather than quantity, include:
- Refining the Medicare Advantage star rating system;
- Increasing beneficiary access to providers through accurate provider directories; and
- Changing the Advance Rate Notice payment.
CMS is accepting comments on the proposed Advance Rate Notice and draft Call Letter until 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on March 6, 2015. Comments may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. CMS will publish the 2016 Final Rate Announcement and Call Letter on April 6, 2015.
The CMS press release on the Advance Notice and draft Call Letter is available at:
The CMS Notice and Call Letter containing the proposed policies is available at:
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/Downloads/Advance2016.pdf.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “CMS Proposes 2016 Payment and Policy Updates for Medicare Health and Drug Plans.” Press Release. 20 Feb. 2015.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2016 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2016 Call Letter; Advance Notice and Call Letter (February 20, 2015).