Breaking Down The Final 2018 Letter To Issuers

Editor’s note: The final 2018 Letter To Issuers In The Federally Facilitated Maketplaces, discussed below, was issued in conjunction with the final 2018 Benefit and Payment Parameters rule, discussed here and here. On December 16, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final 2018 Letter to Issuers in the Federally Facilitated Marketplaces (FFM). CMS releases a letter each year to insurers that offer coverage through the FFM or through state-based marketplaces that use the Healthcare.gov platform (SBM-FP), laying out the ground rules for qualified health plan (QHP) and standalone dental plan (SADP) coverage for the following benefit year. The letter finalizes a draft letter published for comment in November. It is based on the 2018 benefit and payment parameters rule (the “payment notice”), also released on December 16. The letter has in earlier years been released in the early spring along with the payment notice. This year the letter and the payment rule are being released early for several reasons. First, releasing the rule and letter early will give marketplace insurers more time to formulate their forms and rates. Second, there are few changes from 2017 so giving time for extended comment was less necessary. And finally, the change of administration in January could have led to a prolonged period of uncertainty just as the insurers were supposed to be finalizing plans for 2018...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage Payment Policy Source Type: blogs