-
The policy analysis and guidance you need by the experts you trust, daily. -
- ACOs
- After Hours
- Agent Oversight
- Brain Food
- Clinical
- Compliance
- Health Insurance Exchanges
- Medicaid
- Part D
- Performance Optimization
- Policy & Health Reform
- Prospective Evaluations
- Provider Relations
- Risk Adjustment
- Sales & Marketing
- Star Ratings
- Strategy
- Regan Pennypacker on Latest Audit Enforcement Actions Issued by CMS
- Kathleen Chapman on 2019 Medicare Advantage Rate Announcement & Call Letter
- Michelle Juhanson on Latest Audit Enforcement Actions Issued by CMS
- Alan Mittermaier on MA and Part D Proposed Rule Increases Plan Flexibility, Reduces Regulatory Burden
- Sharon Willliams on A New Source of Capital for Star Ratings and Clinical Innovations
-
The Voice of Regan Pennypacker
2018 Audit & Enforcement Conference: Program Audit Changes on the Horizon
On Monday, I provided some highlights of last week’s conferences during our weekly Insider call. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the Spring Conference on May 9 and the Audit & Enforcement Conference on May 10. The Program Audit tools and methodology continue to evolve. The agency gave the industry a heads up about the changes when the data collection tools were posted for public comment. Today I focus on one session, New Approach to 2019 Audits and Universes.
Lack of Staff: Biggest Hurdle to Success
Staffing continues to be a major hurdle in the healthcare industry. A recent poll conducted by Gorman Health Group showed that 38% of respondents believed the biggest hurdle to success in their organization was lack of knowledgeable staff or lack of staff.
Latest Audit Enforcement Actions Issued by CMS
Like clockwork, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the enforcement action notices issued to sponsors related to 2017 program audits. Additional detail regarding conditions, audit scores, and enforcement is expected to be included in the 2017 Program Audit Enforcement Report, which the agency hopes to release before their conferences taking place May 9-10. In the meantime, we break down the published data, which includes not only program audit actions but others as well: Read more
CMS Timeliness Monitoring Underway
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) timeliness monitoring is currently underway at organizations with active contracts in 2017 and 2018, with a few exclusions, such as Medicare-Medicaid Plans and organizations that underwent a program audit in 2017 and did not have any invalid data submissions in key audit areas. Is your organization excluded? See the Health Plan Management System memo dated December 12, 2017. If I had a nickel for every time someone referred to this activity as a timeliness audit, I’d have quite a pile of nickels. While it is not an audit, it sure feels like one as the validation activity is the same.
Second NOIA Deadline Approaching
Applicants looking to enter Medicare Advantage, Part D, or the Medicare-Medicaid Plan space have two deadlines to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply, commonly referred to as a “NOIA,” for contract year 2019: November 13, 2017, and January 26, 2018. The first submission allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) team to gauge what resources might be needed during this critical time of year. The second date is provided to allow potential suitors to review the final 2019 application requirements, which should be released here, here, and here around January 9, and then make a decision.
Three Considerations For Those Entering Medicare Advantage
Every few months the industry hears news of new players getting into the Medicare Advantage (MA) game. And why not? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 19 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in MA plans this year. Either someone is building from the ground up or purchasing an existing structure, such as CVS Health Corporation’s recent agreement to acquire Aetna. I don’t expect this will be the last pharmacy benefit manager to look for an insurer partner with the promise of being able to lower healthcare costs. While analysts argue over the benefits and concerns, one thing is for certain: you need experienced administrators at the helm. I borrow from the late Mitch Hedberg who summarized just because you can do something really well in one field doesn’t make you an expert in everything:
The 2019 Application – Key Dates
As a follow up to my last article on the Notice of Intent to Apply, I give you an enhanced chart of 2019 application activities outlining things you should have been doing or should be in the middle of now. Thanks to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for creating a base, published recently via memo – my colorful additions peppered throughout for your perusal. If past activities have not been done yet, it is time to get a move on, or you risk missing the deadline. Read more
