Erianne Leatherman | Apr 14, 2017

CMS releases final updates for Medicare Advantage, drug plans

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final updates to its Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug programs for 2018.

CMS said in a release that the updates will help it support benefit flexibility and efficiency to give Medicare enrollees the opportunity select care that best suits their medical needs.

Policy updates reflect “additional flexibility and incentives to encourage organizations to develop new plan offerings with innovative provider network arrangements that may further encourage enrollee use of and improve access to high quality health care services,” CMS said, adding that it expects the updates to boost the options of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for enrollees to select.

Plans will have an average revenue change of 0.45 percent.

“When accounting for the expected growth in coding acuity, plans can expect a total change of 2.95 percent in revenue,” CMS said. ‘Plans that improve the quality of care they deliver to enrollees will see higher updates and can grow and enhance the benefits they offer to enrollees.”

CMS said it is also submitting a Request for Information to receive feedback on Medicare Advantage and Part D and will accept comments on it until April 24.

Organizations in this story