DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Center for Medicare

7500 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

MEDICARE DRUG & HEALTH PLAN CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION GROUP

DATE: April 14, 2017

TO: Medicare Advantage Organizations

Section 1876 Cost Plans

FROM: Kathryn A. Coleman, Director

SUBJECT: Contract Year 2018 Medicare Advantage Bid Review and Operations Guidance

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing this memorandum for use in

preparation of contract year (CY) 2018 bid submissions. The purpose of this document is to

provide the following to Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAO), and where specified,

Section 1876 Cost Plans: detailed operational guidance to support plans in their bid

development; highlight key benefit policies; and review of the CY 2018 Plan Benefit Package

(PBP) software for bid submission.

Guidance in this memorandum references the CY 2018 Final Call Letter (specifically Section II,

Part C) issued on April 3, 2017, Chapter 4 of the Medicare Managed Care Manual (MMCM),

and the PBP bid submission module in the Health Plan Management System (HPMS). CMS

recommends MAOs and other Medicare health plans review these resources in addition to this

memorandum when developing bids for CY 2018. Bids are due to CMS on or before Monday,

June 5, 2017 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time.

Guidance related to the Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs) can be found at

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination/Medicare-and-Medicaid-

Coordination/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination-Office/index.html and in the HPMS

Memorandum titled “Applicability of CY 2018 Final Call Letter Provisions to Medicare-

Medicaid Plans” issued on April 4, 2017.

For information about the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model Test (MA-

VBID), please visit http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/vbid/.

Bid Review

The following chart displays key MA bid review criteria and identifies which criteria are used in

reviewing the bids of the plan types described in the column headings, and if guidance is also

provided in the CY 2018 Final Call Letter.

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Plan Types and Applicable Bid Review Criteria

Bid Review Criteria

Applies to Non-

Employer Plans

(Excluding

Dual Eligible

SNP)

Applies to

Non-Employer

Dual Eligible

SNP

Applies to

1876 Cost

Plans

Applies to

Employer

Plans

Described in

Call Letter or

this HPMS

Memo

Meaningful Difference 42 C.F.R. §422.254(a)(4)

Yes No No No Call Letter

Total Beneficiary Cost

(TBC) section 1854(a)(5)(C)(ii)

of the Act

42 C.F.R. §422.254

Yes No No No Both

Maximum Out-of –

Pocket (MOOP)

Limits 42 C.F.R. §422.100(f)(4)

and (5) and

§422.101(d)(2) and (3)

Yes Yes No Yes Both

PMPM Actuarial

Equivalent Cost

Sharing 42 C.F.R. §422.254(b)(4)

Yes Yes No Yes Call Letter

Service Category Cost

Sharing 42 C.F.R. §§417.454(e),

422.100(f) and

422.100(j)

Yes Yes Yes1 Yes Call Letter

Part C Optional

Supplemental Benefits 42 C.F.R. §422.100(f)

Yes Yes No No Call Letter

1 Section 1876 Cost Plans and MA plans may not charge enrollees higher cost sharing than is charged under Original Medicare

for chemotherapy administration, skilled nursing care and renal dialysis services (42 C.F.R. §§417.454(e) and 422.100(j)).

CMS has interpreted and applied the regulatory standards for service category cost sharing

standards and amounts, PMPM Actuarial Equivalence factors, and Total Beneficiary Cost (TBC)

requirements for CY 2018 and has provided guidance on these requirements. MAOs must also

continue to comply with statutory requirements, such as the medical loss ratio and health

insurance providers fee, and are expected to do so independently of our requirements for benefits

or bid review. Therefore, CMS is not making specific adjustments or specific allowances for

these changes in the benefits review requirements.

Total Beneficiary Cost (TBC)

As stated in the CY 2018 Final Call Letter, CMS will exercise its authority under section

1854(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Act to deny MAO bids, on a case-by-case basis, if it determines the bid

proposes too significant an increase in cost sharing or decrease in benefits from one plan year to

the next through the use of the TBC standard. A plan’s TBC is the sum of the plan-specific Part

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B premium, plan premium, and estimated beneficiary out-of-pocket costs. For most CY 2018

bids, CMS will apply a TBC threshold of $34.00. The change in TBC from one year to the next

captures the combined financial impact of premium changes and benefit design changes (i.e.,

cost sharing changes) on plan enrollees; an increase in TBC is indicative of a reduction in

benefits. As in past years, CMS will evaluate TBC for non-employer plans (excluding D-SNPs).

For CY 2018, benefits and cost sharing that are offered as part of the Value-Based Insurance

Design (VBID) model test will not be included in the TBC evaluation. The MA plans

participating in the VBID model test will be evaluated under the TBC calculation, including plan

premium and non-VBID benefits and cost sharing. Under 42 C.F.R. §422.254, CMS reserves the

right to further examine and request changes to a plan bid even if a plan’s TBC is within the

required amount.

CMS will continue to incorporate technical and payment adjustments and expect organizations to

address other factors, such as coding intensity changes, risk adjustment model changes, and

payment of the health insurance providers fee independently of CMS requirements for benefits

and bid review. As such, plans are expected to anticipate and manage changes in payment and

other environmental factors to minimize changes in benefit and cost sharing over time. To

provide flexibility for CY 2018 plans, CMS is increasing the TBC threshold from $32.00 PMPM

to $34.00 PMPM for most plans:

In mid-April, as in past years, CMS will provide plan-specific CY 2018 TBC values and

incorporate the following adjustments in the TBC calculation to account for changes from one

year to the next:

Technical Adjustments: (1) annual changes in OOPC model software and (2) maximum

Part B premium buy-down amount change in the bid pricing tool ($4.10 for CY 2018).

Payment Adjustments: (1) county benchmark and (2) quality bonus payment and/or

rebate percentages.

The TBC change threshold for CY 2018 is $34.00 PMPM for most plans. Therefore, a plan

experiencing a net increase in adjustments must have an effective TBC change amount below the

$34.00 PMPM threshold to avoid denial of the bid under section 1854(a)(5)(C)(ii). Conversely,

a plan experiencing a net decrease in adjustments may have an effective TBC change amount

above the $34.00 PMPM threshold. In an effort to support plans that improve quality

compensation and experience large payment adjustments, along with holding plans accountable

for lower quality, CMS will apply the TBC evaluation as follows.

For CY 2018, the TBC change evaluation will be treated differently for the following specific

situations:

Plans with an increase in quality bonus payment and/or rebate percentage, and an overall

payment adjustment amount greater than $34.00 PMPM will have a TBC change

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threshold of $0.00 PMPM (i.e., -1 times the TBC change limit of $34.00 PMPM) plus

applicable technical adjustments.

Plans with a decrease in quality bonus payments and/or rebate percentage, and an overall

payment adjustment amount less than -$34.00 PMPM will have a TBC change threshold

of $68.00 PMPM (i.e., 2 times TBC change limit of $34.00 PMPM) plus applicable

technical adjustments. That is, plans would not be allowed to make changes that result in

greater than $68.00 worth of decreased benefits or increased premiums.

Plans with a star rating below 3.0 and an overall payment adjustment amount less than

-$34.00 PMPM will have a TBC change threshold of $68.00 PMPM (i.e., 2 times TBC

change limit of $34.00) plus applicable technical adjustments.

Plans not accounted for in the three specific situations above will be evaluated at the

$34.00 PMPM limit, similar to CY 2017.

Consistent with last year, CMS will maintain the CY 2017 evaluation process for Special Needs

Plans (SNP) for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD):

ESRD SNPs with an increase in the overall payment adjustment amount greater than

$34.00 PMPM will have a TBC change threshold of $0.00 PMPM (i.e., -1 times the TBC

change limit of $34.00 PMPM) plus applicable technical adjustments.

ESRD SNPs with a decrease in the overall payment adjustment amount less than -$34.00

PMPM will have a TBC change threshold of $68.00 PMPM (i.e., 2 times the TBC change

limit of $34.00 PMPM) plus applicable technical adjustments. That is, plans are not

allowed to make changes that result in greater than $68.00 worth of decreased benefits or

increased premiums.

As stated in the CY 2017 and CY 2018 Final Call Letters, each individual plan being

consolidated into another plan must meet the TBC requirement on its own merit. Therefore, the

TBC adjustment factors for each plan being consolidated will be part of the calculation as if the

plan were continuing. For example, Plan A is being consolidated into Plan B. Plan A’s TBC

adjustment factors (technical and payment) would be used in the TBC evaluation for Plan A’s

consolidation into Plan B. Plan B’s TBC adjustment factors (technical and payment) would be

used in the TBC evaluation for Plan B. The following describes how the TBC evaluation will be

conducted for organizations that consolidate or segment plans from one year to the next:

Consolidating multiple non-segmented plans into one plan: TBC for each CY 2017 plan

will be compared independently to the CY 2018 plan.

Segmenting an existing plan: TBC for each CY 2018 segmented plan will be compared

independently to the CY 2017 non-segmented plan.

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Consolidating previously segmented plans: TBC of each existing CY 2017 segmented

plans will be compared independently to the non-segmented CY 2018 plan.

Consolidating segmented plans into other segmented plans: TBC of the existing CY 2017

segmented plan will be compared independently to the segmented CY 2018 plan.

If CMS provides an opportunity to correct CY 2018 TBC issues following the submission

deadline, the MAO cannot change its formulary (e.g., adding drugs, etc.) as a means to satisfy

this requirement. The formulary review process has multiple stages and making changes that are

unrelated to CMS identified formulary review concerns negatively affects the formulary and bid

review process. For example, portions of the annual formulary review process are based on

outlier analyses. If an MAO were permitted to make substantial formulary changes after the

initial reviews, these analyses could be adversely impacted. In addition, significant formulary

changes would necessitate additional CMS review, outside of the normal review stages, may

jeopardize the approval of an MAO’s formulary and, as a result, could affect approval of its

contract. To avoid TBC issues, MAOs are strongly encouraged to make sure all Part C and Part

D benefit and formulary changes are considered as part of their TBC evaluation prior to

submitting their final bids and formularies to CMS. We make all of the necessary tools and

information available to MAOs in advance of the bid submission deadline, and therefore expect

all MAOs to submit bids that satisfy our requirements.

The plan-specific data elements that CMS will post on HPMS in mid-April are shown in the

following table. The calculation shown in the table accounts for changes in quality bonus

payment and/or rebate percentage or star rating (as described above) so all plans are evaluated

against a $34.00 PMPM TBC change threshold. Should there be any changes due to the quality

bonus payment appeals process, plan sponsors will be notified of their corresponding revised

TBC adjustment factor. Section 1876 Cost Plans will be included in the HPMS posting so

organizations can review their applicable information for implementation of the enrollment

conversion requirements associated with the cost contract transition.

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Plan-Specific TBC Calculation

Steps Item Item Description

CY 2017

TBC

A OOPC value Each of these plan-specific values will

be provided by CMS through an HPMS

posting

B Premium (net of rebates)

C Total TBC

CY 2018

TBC

D OOPC value Plan calculates using OOPC Model

Tools

E Premium (net of rebates) Bid Pricing Tool, Worksheet 6, Cell

R45 + Cell E14 - Cell L14

F Total TBC Calculation: D plus E

Apply TBC

Adjustments

G Unadjusted TBC Change Calculation: F minus C

Payment adjustments (including county benchmark, quality bonus payment,

and/or rebate percentages)

H Gross Payment Adjustment Plan-specific value will be provided by

CMS through an HPMS posting

I Plan Situation CMS determines whether the TBC

calculation is modified for each plan to

account for changes in quality bonus

payment and/or rebate percentage or star

rating through an HPMS posting

J Payment Adjustment Based

on Plan Situation

Plan-specific value will be provided by

CMS through an HPMS posting

Technical Adjustments

K Part B premium adjustment

for the difference between

the maximum Part B

premium buy-down for CY

2017 ($104.90) and the

amount for CY 2018

($109.00)

Value is $4.10 for all plans

L Impact of changes in OOPC

Model between CY 2017 and

CY 2018

Plan-specific value will be provided by

CMS through an HPMS posting

Evaluation

M Adjusted TBC Change Calculation: G + J - K - L

Plan is likely to pass the TBC evaluation

if M is less than or equal to $34 PMPM

As described in the exhibit above, CMS will provide, through the HPMS posting, CY 2017 TBC

plan-specific information including OOPC value (Item A), Premium (net of rebates) (Item B),

and Total TBC (Item C). Premiums used in this calculation will be inclusive of Part B premium

(full premium or partial as a result of a Part B premium buy-down). Based on the CMS release

of Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) files in early April, MAOs will be able to calculate their

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plan-specific CY 2018 OOPC value (Item D) and combine that with their proposed Premium (net

of rebates) for CY 2018 (Item E). Premium (net of rebates) can be found in the Bid Pricing

Tool, Worksheet 6, Cell R45 + Cell E14 - Cell L14.

The Unadjusted TBC Change between CY 2017 and CY 2018 (Item G) is the difference between

CY 2018 Total TBC (Item F) and CY 2017 Total TBC (Item C) , i.e., G = F - C. The Adjusted

TBC Change amount (Item M) reflects the impact of the payment adjustment and technical

adjustments. CMS will provide payment adjustment information through the HPMS posting.

The Gross Payment Adjustment (Item H) accounts for changes in county benchmark, and quality

bonus payment and/or rebate percentages. The Plan Situation (Item I) defines whether the TBC

calculation will be modified with an alternative Payment Adjustment based on the Plan Situation

(Item J) to account for ESRD SNPs or changes in the quality bonus payment and/or rebate

percentage or star rating as indicated in the following table.

Plan Situation

(Item I)

Payment Adjustment

Based on the Plan

Situation

(Item J)

Plans with an increase in quality bonus

payment and/or rebate percentage, and an

overall payment adjustment amount (Item H)

greater than $34.00 PMPM

Maximized at $34

Plans with a decrease in quality bonus

payments and/or rebate percentage, and an

overall payment adjustment amount (Item H)

less than -$34.00 PMPM

Minimized at -$34

Plans with a star rating below 3.0 and an

overall payment adjustment amount (Item H)

less than -$34.00 PMPM

Minimized at -$34

Plans that are not accounted for in the three

categories above

Same as Gross Payment

Adjustment

ESRD SNPs with an increase in the overall

payment adjustment amount (Item H) greater

than $34.00 PMPM

Maximized at $34

ESRD SNPs with a decrease in the overall

payment adjustment amount (Item H) less

than -$34.00 PMPM

Minimized at -$34

The HPMS posting will also provide Technical Adjustments, including Part B premium

adjustment (Item K) and the Impact of Changes in the OOPC model between CY 2017 and CY

2018 (Item L). It should be noted, however, these elements impact TBC in different directions,

i.e., M = G + J - K - L.

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Plan bids with an Adjusted TBC Change amount (Item M) equal to or less than $34.00 PMPM

are likely to be accepted. We remind MAOs the Office of the Actuary extends flexibility on

margin requirements so MAOs can meet the TBC standard. Under §422.256, CMS reserves the

right to further examine and request changes to a plan bid even if a plan’s TBC is within the

required amount.

Illustrative Calculation for Payment Adjustments

As described above, CMS adjusts the TBC calculation to reflect payment changes from one year

to the next. The following table provides examples of how the payment adjustment is calculated.

The Payment Adjustment is the CY 2018 rebate minus the CY 2017 rebate. The CY 2017 Bid

Amount and Benchmark are taken from the CY 2017 BPT. For purposes of the illustrative

calculation below, the CY 2017 Bid Amount is assumed to grow by the same MA growth

percentage as was used to develop the CY 2018 ratebook. The CY 2018 Benchmark is the

weighted average of county-specific payment rates using the CY 2018 ratebook and projected

enrollment from the CY 2017 BPT. The rebate percentage is dependent on the plan’s Quality

Bonus Payment (QBP) rating for each year. The rebate is calculated as the Benchmark minus

the Bid Amount (if the Bid Amount is less than the Benchmark the difference is multiplied by

the rebate percentage).

Illustrative Calculation Examples

Bid

ID

2017 Values 2018 Values

Rebate

Difference

Payment

Adj.

TBC

Threshold Star

Rating

Bid

Amt. Benchmark

Rebate

% Rebate

Star

Rating

Bid

Amt. Benchmark

Rebate

% Rebate

Plan

001 3 $1,000 $950 50% ($50.00) 3 1,025.30 $974 50% ($51.27) ($1.27) ($1.27) $35.27

Plan

002 3 $1,000 $1,050 50% $25.00 3 1,025.30 $1,077 50% $25.63 $0.63 $0.63 $33.37

Plan

003 3 $1,000 $1,300 50% $150.00 3.5 1,025.30 $1,333 65% $199.93 $49.93 $34.00 $0.00

Plan

004 3.5 $1,000 $1,300 65% $195.00 3 1,025.30 $1,333 50% $153.80 ($41.21) ($34.00) $68.00

Plan

005 3.5 $1,000 $1,300 65% $195.00 4 1,025.30 $1,398 65% $242.18 $47.18 $34.00 $0.00

Plan

006 4 $1,000 $1,365 65% $237.25 3.5 1,025.30 $1,331 65% $198.89 ($38.36) ($34.00) $68.00

Plan

007 2.5 $1,000 $1,300 50% $150.00 2.5 1,025.30 $1,250 50% $112.35 ($37.65) ($34.00) $68.00

Note: Slight variances in numbers are due to rounding.

Illustrative Calculation Descriptions:

a. Plans 001 through 004 have benchmark growth of 2.53%.

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b. Plan 001 bid amount is greater than the benchmark in both years; therefore the difference is

not multiplied by the rebate percentage.

c. Plan 002 (and plans 003-007) bid amount is less than the benchmark in both years; therefore

the difference is multiplied by the rebate percentage.

d. Plan 003 has an increase in rebate percentage; therefore the payment adjustment is maximized

at $34.

e. Plan 004 has a decrease in rebate percentage; therefore the payment adjustment is minimized

at -$34.

f. Plan 005 has benchmark growth of 2.53% plus 5.0% to simulate gaining a bonus payment;

therefore the payment adjustment is maximized at $34.

g. Plan 006 has benchmark growth of 2.53% less 5.0% to simulate losing a bonus payment;

therefore the payment adjustment is minimized at -$34.

h. Plan 007 has a 2018 star rating below 3.0; therefore the payment adjustment is minimized

at -$34.

We encourage organizations to participate in User Group Calls conducted by the Office of the

Actuary. These calls begin in April and provide organizations with the opportunity to ask

technical questions related to this calculation.

Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) Limits

As codified at 42 C.F.R. §422.100(f)(4) and (5), and §422.101(d)(2) and (3), all MA plans,

including employer group plans and SNPs, must establish limits on enrollee out-of-pocket

spending that do not exceed the annual maximum amounts set by CMS. The MOOP applies to

Parts A and B services. However, the MOOP also can apply to supplemental benefits.

For CY 2018, we continue to encourage organizations to establish the lower, voluntary MOOP

thresholds. MAOs adopting voluntary MOOP amounts will have more flexibility in establishing

cost sharing amounts for Parts A and B services than those that do not elect the voluntary MOOP

limits. Plans are responsible for tracking enrolled beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket spending and to

alert beneficiaries and plan providers when the spending limit is reached. D-SNPs also must

track enrollee cost sharing, but should include only those amounts the enrollee is responsible for

paying net of any State responsibility or exemption from cost sharing.

The CY 2018 Final Call Letter defines MOOP requirements by plan type. The following chart

identifies the required MOOP amounts by plan type that are to be reflected in the PBP for CY

2018 for all Parts A and B services.

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CY 2018 PBP Options for Entering MOOP Amounts by Plan Type

Plan Type Required MOOP

Amounts

Plan also may choose to enter in the

PBP:

HMO In-network "In-network" is only option available in

the PBP

HMO with Optional Supp. Point

of Service (POS) In-network

"In-network" is only option available in

the PBP

HMO with Mandatory Supp.

POS In-network

"No" or enter amounts for "Combined"

and/or "Out-of-Network" as applicable

Local Preferred Provider

Organization (LPPO)

In-network and

Combined

"No" or enter an amount for "Out-of-

Network” as applicable

Regional Preferred Provider

Organization (RPPO)

In-network and

Combined

“No” or enter an amount for “Out-of-

Network" as applicable

PFFS (full network) Combined "No" or enter amounts for "In-Network"

and/or “Out-of-Network” as applicable

PFFS (partial network) Combined "No" or enter amounts for "In-Network"

and/or "Out-of-Network" as applicable

PFFS (non-network) General "General" is the only option available in

the PBP

Service Category Cost Sharing Justification

Service category cost sharing standards can be found in the CY 2018 Final Call Letter issued

April 3, 2017. MAOs with benefit designs using a coinsurance or copayment amount for which

CMS does not have an established amount (e.g., coinsurance for inpatient or copayment for

durable medical equipment) must submit documentation with their initial bid that clearly

demonstrates how the coinsurance or copayment amount satisfies CMS service category

requirements for each applicable plan. This documentation may include information for multiple

plans and must be identified separately from other supporting documentation submitted as part of

the BPT. The documentation must be submitted for each plan through the supporting

documentation upload section titled "Cost-Sharing Justification" in HPMS. The upload will be

available to all MA plan types (both employer and individual market), but not for stand-alone

PDPs. The navigation path for uploading cost sharing justification files will be located at Plan

Bids > Bid Submission > CY 2018 > Upload/Cost-Sharing Justification.

Discriminatory Pattern Analysis

CMS will evaluate whether plans have satisfied cost sharing requirements and may identify other

services that may not adhere to cost sharing guidance. For additional guidance, review MMCM,

Chapter 4, §50.1. CMS will evaluate whether cost sharing levels satisfy MA requirements and

11

are defined or administered in a manner that may discriminate against sicker or higher-cost

beneficiaries. These analyses may also evaluate the impact of benefit design on beneficiary

health status and/or certain disease states. CMS will contact plans to discuss any issues that are

identified as a result of these analyses and seek correction or adjustment of the bid as necessary.

CY 2018 Part C Benefit Policy

CMS strives to make sure all enrollees receive high quality and effective health care services,

and therefore encourages plans to offer benefits to enrollees that are of value and based on sound

medical practice. The following sections clarify particular policy areas that have generated

questions from stakeholders in previous years.

MA-PD Offerings

As provided at 42 C.F.R. §422.4(c), an MAO cannot offer an MA coordinated care plan in an

area unless that plan or another plan offered by the MAO in that same service area includes Part

D prescription drug coverage. A new validation function has been added to the Service Area

Verification (SAV) in HPMS to ensure that if a legal entity is offering a MA-only plan, it must

offer at least one MA-PD in each county for the legal entity’s service area. Please note that the

following types of plans are not subject to this Part D requirement: EGWP, SNP, PFFS, MSA,

1876 Cost Plans, 1833 Cost Plans, MMPs, PACE, and RFB Local CCPs. The SAV will be

released in late-April and it is important for organizations to verify their service area well in

advance of submitting CY 2018 bids. The navigation path for verifying your service area will be

located at Plan Bids > Bid Submission > CY 2018 > Upload/Verify Service Area.

Smoking and Tobacco-use Cessation

For plans offering Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as part of their Smoking and Tobacco-

use Cessation benefit, CMS reminds MAOs that these products may be offered through Part C

OTC, Part D OTC, and/or the Part D formulary. If offering NRT under the Part C Smoking and

Tobacco-use Cessation benefit, the plan must specify in the notes section that the NRT does not

duplicate any Part D OTC or formulary drugs.

Maximum Plan Benefit Coverage Amount for Supplemental Benefits

Plans have the flexibility to establish a maximum plan benefit coverage amount for each

supplemental benefit or a combined coverage amount for multiple supplemental benefits. To

establish a maximum plan benefit coverage amount for each supplemental benefit, the plan

would enter the appropriate data in PBP Section B for each benefit. Plans providing a combined

maximum plan benefit coverage amount for multiple supplemental benefits would enter the

combined amount in PBP Section D.

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Cost Sharing for Special Needs Plans Serving Dual Eligible Enrollees (D-SNP)

CMS expects MAOs to communicate MA and State Medicaid benefits to D-SNP enrollees in a

comprehensive and transparent manner. D-SNPs must include Medicare Parts A, B, and Part D

services in their PBP submission, along with approved optional and/or mandatory supplemental

benefits. No Medicaid benefits may be included in the PBP. For example, if a plan offers a

preventive dental benefit for which it receives payment from the State Medicaid agency, that

benefit must not be included in the PBP.

Supplemental benefits that are separately purchased by an employer or union may not be

included in the PBP (See §422.106(a)(2)). This segregation of Medicare-only benefits in the

PBP is necessary so CMS may appropriately account for the Medicare benefit package.

Tiered Cost Sharing of Medical Benefits

MAOs may choose to tier cost sharing of medical benefits to encourage enrollees to seek care

from providers the plan has identified as more efficient or higher quality standards for this type

of tiered plan as described in Chapter 4, §50.1 of the MMCM. The tiered cost sharing of medical

benefits must be applied so all plan enrollees are charged the same cost sharing amount for any

specific provider and all providers are available and accessible to all enrollees in the plan. CMS

reminds organizations they may not exclude any members from being eligible to access tiered

providers.

For CY 2018, CMS expects MAOs to submit a proposal summarizing their intent to tier medical

benefits prior to bid submission. All proposals should be submitted to the mailbox at:

https://MABenefitsMailbox.lmi.org/MedicalTiering.aspx. Submissions will be accepted through

May 4, 2017.

CMS will review all tiering submissions to ensure all MA requirements (including anti-

discrimination requirements and uniform benefit packages) are met. CMS will approve a tiered

medical design meeting the following standards:

The plan fully discloses tiered cost sharing amounts and requirements to enrollees and

plan providers;

The services at each tier of cost sharing are available to all enrollees;

Enrollees may not be limited to obtaining services from providers/suppliers assigned to a

particular tier;

All enrollees are charged the same amount for the same service provided by the same

provider; and

Deductibles, MOOP, and out-of-network benefits are not to be tiered.

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The following examples of “differential cost sharing” are allowable, and not considered to be

tiering of medical benefits:

Facility settings for furnishing some services, such as diagnostic imaging services; and

In-network versus out-of-network services.

MAOs are expected to confirm they are tiering medical benefits and the applicable service

categories in Section A-6 of the PBP. MAOs must use minimum/maximum data entry and notes

fields to describe tiering in each applicable section of the PBP.

Section 1876 Cost Plans Entering Supplemental Benefits in the PBP

For CY 2018, Section 1876 Cost Plans must continue to follow the guidance in the February 9,

2016 HPMS memorandum titled “Implementation of the Cost Contract Plan Transition

Requirements under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015: Star Ratings

and Clarification of Bid Submissions:”

As stated in the December 7, 2015 HPMS memo, “Cost plans are permitted to provide

optional supplemental benefits to enrollees, but not mandatory supplemental benefits. CMS

has permitted cost plans to enter optional supplemental benefits into the Plan Benefit

Package (PBP) as mandatory supplemental benefits for display on Medicare Plan Finder as

an administrative convenience in the past.” We are clarifying that cost plans may continue

this practice unless they intend to convert to an MA plan for the next contract year. Cost

plans intending to convert to an MA plan for the next contract year should submit a PBP to

CMS in which both mandatory and optional supplemental benefits are entered in

accordance with the rules applied to all MA plans. This will allow CMS to appropriately

calculate beneficiary costs (Total Beneficiary Cost) for the converted plan.

Rewards and Incentives

Rewards and incentives are not considered plan benefits or eligible supplemental benefits.

Rewards and incentives are programs plans may offer consistent with regulations at 42 C.F.R.

§422.134 and guidance in Chapter 4, §100 of the MMCM. CMS does not expect to see rewards

and incentives in CY 2018 PBPs. However, the cost of any Rewards and Incentive Program

must be included in the BPT as a non-benefit expense.

CY 2018 Plan Benefit Package (PBP)

Employer Group Waiver Plans

In CY 2017, CMS waived the requirement for MA employer plans to submit a MA or Part D Bid

Pricing Tool (BPT), but employer plans must complete and submit the MA portion of the Plan

Benefit Package (PBP) in accordance with CMS requirements. Organizations should make a

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good faith effort in projecting CY 2018 member months for each plan and place the amount in

Section A-2 of the PBP. The following question must be completed for all MA and 1876 Cost

Plan organizations: “Indicate CY 2018 total projected member months for this plan.”

CY 2018 PBP Data Entry Expectations

Under §422.101(b), MAOs must comply with Original Medicare requirements and guidance as

to benefits coverage. Most PBP sections do not require a note, particularly when an organization

provides benefits in accordance with Chapter 4 of the MMCM. When a note is required,

organizations must ensure it includes all relevant information necessary for CMS review. This

includes ensuring the note:

Is consistent with the data entry in the corresponding section of the PBP.

Includes a brief description of the different cost sharing levels included in the data field

ranges. For example, cost sharing amounts that fall in between the minimum and

maximum for some highly utilized services (if applicable).

Is consistent with guidance in Chapter 4 of the MMCM:

– If PBP notes are required based on Chapter 4 guidance, the note must provide the

necessary information as described in Chapter 4.

– If a plan is offering more extensive services for a particular supplemental benefit,

the note should describe only those services over and above what is described in

Chapter 4.

– If there is no description in Chapter 4 for a supplemental benefit being offered,

the benefit is to be entered in the “Other” (13d, 13e and 13f) category of the PBP

and the note must describe the benefit.

Notes should not include:

Detailed CPT codes or exhaustive lists of every procedure covered by the benefit;

Bid Pricing Tool explanations;

Terms such as "etc., or misc." in the notes field;

Restatement of the PBP question(s);

Terminology that does not follow the current Chapter 4 definitions (such as "prior

authorization" or "referral") or terminology that leaves ambiguity about the benefit

coverage parameters;

Reference to Medicaid benefits;

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Reference to benefits covered under Part D (except in Rx PBP Notes section, where

applicable);

Reference to Model of Care (MOC) Requirements.

Updated Service Category Descriptions

CMS has updated the Medicare benefit and service category descriptions within the PBP

software and encourages MAOs to review this information to make sure proposed benefits are

consistent with CMS definitions and guidance. These service category descriptions can be

viewed within the PBP software. They can also be viewed in early May under the HPMS

"Service Category Report" found in the 2018 Bid Reports section of HPMS (Navigation Path:

Plan Bids > Bid Reports > CY 2018 > Plan Benefit Reports > Service Category Report).

CY 2018 PBP Changes

CMS has revised and clarified certain PBP sections to simplify plan data entry, and better reflect

MAO and Section 1876 Cost Plan Organization offerings. CMS strongly encourages MAOs to

review the CY 2018 PBP List of Changes in HPMS (Navigation Path: HPMS > Plan Bids > Bid

Submission > CY2018 > Documentation/View Documentation > PBP Tab). Some of the PBP

changes for CY 2018 are included below:

B-14a: Medicare-covered Zero Dollar Preventive Services and B-14e: Other

Medicare-covered Preventive Services

Preventive services are entered in two sections of the PBP:

B-14a Medicare-covered Zero Dollar Preventive Services: Preventive services in this

section are subject to §422.100(k), which requires MA plans to provide coverage of

certain preventive services in-network at zero cost share in accordance with Original

Medicare. MAOs are responsible for staying up-to-date on which Medicare-covered

zero dollar preventive services must be offered.

B-14e Other Medicare-covered Preventive Services: Five (5) previously blank text

fields have been removed and replaced with an option to select “Other Medicare-

covered Preventive Services” for which cost sharing may apply. Cost sharing fields

have been added for “Glaucoma Screening,” “Diabetes Self-Management Training,”

and “Other Medicare-covered Preventive Services.” Preventive services for which

Original Medicare charges cost sharing are to be placed in this section even if the plan

chooses not to apply cost sharing. For example, “prostate cancer screening - digital

rectal exam” should be included in this section. MAOs are responsible for staying up-

to-date on other Medicare-covered preventive services for which cost sharing may

apply.

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B-14c: Eligible Supplemental Benefits as Defined in Chapter 4

“Remote Access Technologies” has been updated to allow plans to select “Web/Phone

based technologies” and/or “Nursing Hotline.” The “Remote Access Technologies” in

the enhanced benefit picklist (B-14c base 1 of PBP software) contains an “*.” This

indicates a note is required for the Web/Phone based technologies (B-14c base 10 of the

PBP software). A note is optional if a plan is only offering the “Nursing Hotline”

benefit under the “Remote Access Technologies” supplemental benefit.

B-16b: Comprehensive Dental

The enhanced benefits “Endodontics,” “Periodontics,” and “Extractions” are now listed

as separate benefits in this PBP section. In addition, questions related to the type of

benefit (mandatory/optional), specific number or the unlimited number of the visits,

periodicity of visits, and the cost sharing amounts are included for each enhanced

benefit.

B-7b: Chiropractic Services, B-13a: Acupuncture, and B-14c: Alternative Therapies

The PBP now allows MAOs to offer a combined benefit that includes two or three of the

following services: Chiropractic (7b), Acupuncture (13a), and/or Alternative Therapies

(14c). MAOs offering this combined benefit must match the Maximum Plan Benefit

Coverage Amount and/or the number of visits for the services included in the combined

benefit. The Exit Validation will generate an error message if the PBP data entry differs

from the criteria noted above.

Important Administrative Information and Submission of Questions

MAOs must update contact information in the HPMS Contract Management module to ensure

that communication between CMS and your organization includes the correct individuals. In

addition, CMS will use the following email address PCT@LMI.org to communicate with MAOs

for MA benefits review. Therefore, please ensure your organization’s email system can receive

emails from this address. CMS may send a test email notification to organizations in April or

May to troubleshoot any email transmission issues.

CMS reminds MAOs that the OOPC model in SAS software is available on the CMS website.

All documentation and instructions associated with running the OOPC model are posted on the

CMS website on the OOPC Resources page: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-

Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/OOPCResources.html. Prior to uploading a Medicare

Advantage plan bid, MAOs should run their plan benefit structures through the SAS OOPC

model to make sure the plan offerings comply with CMS requirements, such as Meaningful

Difference and Total Beneficiary Cost evaluations.

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CMS encourages MAOs to review the available resources before submitting a question to

confirm the answer has not already been provided. The MA benefits mailbox at:

https://MABenefitsMailbox.lmi.org/ includes links to a variety of reference materials. MAOs

can submit questions regarding policy, cost sharing, and supplemental benefits to this mailbox

for CMS review and response.

Other questions may be directed to the appropriate mailbox or mailbox website as specified

below:

Technical HPMS questions (e.g., PBP download, plan creation, bid upload), please

contact the HPMS Help Desk at 1-800-220-2028 or hpms@cms.hhs.gov;

Technical questions about the Out-of-Pocket Cost (OOPC) model, please submit an email

to OOPC@cms.hhs.gov;

Part C Medicare Advantage policy and Section 1876 Cost Plan transition policy related

questions, please submit to: https://DPAP.lmi.org/DPAPMailbox/;

Crosswalks, plan consolidation and provider specific plan (PSP) questions, please submit

to https://DMAO.lmi.org/DMAOMailbox;

Part D policy questions about meaningful difference, please submit an email

to PartDBenefits@cms.hhs.gov;

Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) questions, please submit an email to actuarial-

bids@cms.hhs.gov;

Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (MA-VBID) model questions, please

submit an email to: MAVBID@cms.hhs.gov;

Medicare-Medicaid Program questions, please submit an email

to MMCOcapsmodel@cms.hhs.gov.