MACs to Send Direct Mailing to Hospices Regarding MA VBID Hospice Component Model

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In January 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a four-year demonstration model (the MA VBID Hospice Component) under which eligible Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are permitted to offer hospice services as part of the benefit packages. For calendar year (CY) 2022, the MA VBID Hospice Component will expand such that plans […]

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MACs to Send Direct Mailing to Hospices Regarding MA VBID Hospice Component Model

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In January 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a four-year demonstration model (the MA VBID Hospice Component) under which eligible Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are permitted to offer hospice services as part of the benefit packages. For calendar year (CY) 2022, the MA VBID Hospice Component will expand such that plans in […]

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Senate Bill Aims to Speed Process of Prior Authorization for Medicare Advantage

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Bipartisan legislation introduced in the United States Senate would ease, standardize, and speed the process of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, would automate the prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage plans through electronic submission of prior authorization requests with real-time determinations by the MA plans. The legislation […]

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How to Make Medicare Advantage Work for Your Home Care and Hospice Agency

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One of the biggest stories in health care in recent years has been the explosive growth of Medicare Advantage. In 2021, over 42 percent of the total Medicare population was enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, and that is expected to continue to grow. However, many agencies are wary of Medicare Advantage and uncertain how […]

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CMS Releases List of MA Plans Offering Hospice under VBID Model in CY2022

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On September 29, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the list of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that will participate in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model during Calendar Year (CY) 2022, including those that will participate in the MA VBID Hospice Benefit Component, which began operation in January […]

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CMS Issues Guidance on Determining Hospice Beneficiary Enrollment in MA VBID Hospice Model for CY2022

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CMS Orders Systems Changes to Identify Hospice Patients in the Model In calendar year 2022 (CY2022), the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-based Insurance Model (VBID) Hospice Component demonstration model – under which the hospice benefit is included as part of the MA benefit package — will enter its second year of operation and it is believed he […]

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CMS Encourages Hospices to Submit Notice of Election Electronically

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging hospices to submit notices of election (NOE) through electronic data interchange (EDI). One of the main advantages to hospices of filing electronically is that it reduces, and potentially eliminates problems with NOEs that result from keying errors during the Direct Data Entry (DDE) process.  Electronically […]

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Webinar on the 2022 Payment Design of the Hospice Benefit Component of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model

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The Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model team will host a webinar on March 17, 2021 from 4:00-5:oo PM ET. During this webinar, presenters will provide a review of the Calendar Year 2022 payment design related to the Hospice Benefit Component of the VBID Model. This session will also offer attendees an opportunity to ask follow-up […]

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CMS Issues Modified RFA for CY2022 Medicare Advantage-Hospice Coverage Demonstration

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Seeks input on network adequacy standard for CY2023 While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) only just kicked off the first year of its demonstration to test coverage of hospice under the Medicare Advantage (MA) benefit package on January 1, 2021, the agency has already released its Request for Applications (RFA) that will […]

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CMS Establishes Resource Page for Medicare Advantage-Hospice Demo Model

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In an effort to assist stakeholders track information related to the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model that will incorporate the hospice benefit beginning in January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a special online resource page for the model – the VBID Model Hospice Benefit Component Overview page – […]

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CMS Issues Technical/Operational Guidance for MA-Hospice Demonstration Model (Part 2 of 2)

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Read part 1 of this article published in NAHC Report yesterday. Also see this article about CMS VBID webinars. In recent days, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued “Value-Based Insurance Design Model (VBID): Hospice Benefit Component, Calendar Year 2021 Technical and Operational Guidance,” (Technical Guidance) containing supplemental technical guidance for both VBID […]

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CMS Issues List of Plans, Locations for MA Coverage of Hospice under VBID Demonstration Model

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On Thursday, September 24, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the list of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that will participate in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model during Calendar Year (CY) 2021 and information about the 2022 application process for eligible MA organizations.  Included among the list of plans […]

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