Medicare Advantage
Medicare to Cover Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests

People enrolled in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring, the Biden administration recently announced. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through […]
Read MoreMedicare to Cover Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests

People enrolled in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring, the Biden administration recently announced. Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through […]
Read MoreMACs to Send Direct Mailing to Hospices Regarding MA VBID Hospice Component Model

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 […]
Read MoreMACs to Send Direct Mailing to Hospices Regarding MA VBID Hospice Component Model

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 […]
Read MoreSenate Bill Aims to Speed Process of Prior Authorization for Medicare Advantage

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 […]
Read MoreHow to Make Medicare Advantage Work for Your Home Care and Hospice Agency

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 […]
Read MoreCMS Releases List of MA Plans Offering Hospice under VBID Model in CY2022

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 […]
Read MoreCMS Issues Guidance on Determining Hospice Beneficiary Enrollment in MA VBID Hospice Model for CY2022

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 […]
Read MoreCMS Encourages Hospices to Submit Notice of Election Electronically

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 […]
Read MoreWebinar on the 2022 Payment Design of the Hospice Benefit Component of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model

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 […]
Read MoreCMS Issues Modified RFA for CY2022 Medicare Advantage-Hospice Coverage Demonstration

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 […]
Read MoreCMS Establishes Resource Page for Medicare Advantage-Hospice Demo Model

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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