This week in Medicare updates–2/1/2017

January 31, 2017
Medicare Insider

Comment Request: Contract Year 2018 Plan Benefit Package (PBP) Software and Formulary Submission

On January 23, CMS posted a Comment Request in the Federal Register regarding contract year 2018 PBP software and formulary submission. CMS requires Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan organizations submit a completed PBP and formulary as part of the annual bidding process.

 

OIG Corporate Integrity Agreements Updated

On January 23 and January 25, the OIG published three new Corporate Integrity Agreements with the following providers:

 

Beneficiary Notices Initiative MOON update

On January 24, CMS updated its Beneficiary Notices Initiative (BNI) website regarding the recent instructions it released on the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) form and implementation. The updated policy instructions, “CR9935 MOON Instructions,” are available in the Downloads section and will be included as Section 400 of Chapter 30 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual. Medicare Advantage plans are to follow the MOON instructions available in the Downloads as well. Hospitals, including critical access hospitals, are required to provide the MOON no later than March 8, 2017.