Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a 3-year demonstration program to test the use of value-based insurance design methodologies under eligible Medicare Advantage plans, to preserve Medicare beneficiary choice under Medicare Advantage, to revise the treatment under the Medicare program of infusion drugs furnished through durable medical equipment, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015 2. Demonstration program (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq. (b) Demonstration program design (1) Selection of Medicare Advantage sites and eligible Medicare Advantage plans Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) select at least two Medicare Advantage sites with respect to which to conduct the demonstration program under this section; and (B) approve eligible Medicare Advantage plans to participate in such demonstration program. In selecting Medicare Advantage sites under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into account area differences as well as the availability of health maintenance organization plans and preferred provider organization plans offered in such sites. (2) Start of demonstration The demonstration program shall begin not later than the third plan year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Eligible Medicare Advantage plans For purposes of this section, the term eligible Medicare Advantage plan 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq. (A) The plan is an Medicare Advantage regional plan (as defined in paragraph (4) of section 1859(b) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b) (B) The plan has— (i) (I) a quality rating under section 1853(o) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o) (II) in the case of a specialized Medicare Advantage plan for special needs individuals, as defined in section 1859(b)(6)(A) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6)(A) 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o) (ii) at least 20 percent of the population to whom the plan is offered in a service area consists of subsidy eligible individuals (as defined in section 1860D–14(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)(3)(A) (4) Disclosure to beneficiaries The Secretary shall provide to each individual eligible to enroll under a Medicare Advantage plan approved to participate under the demonstration program during a plan year for which the plan is so selected— (A) notification that the plan is participating in such demonstration program; (B) background information on the demonstration program; (C) clinical data derived from the studies resulting from the demonstration program; and (D) notification of the potential benefits that the individual will receive, and of the other potential impacts that the individual will experience, on account of the participation of the plan in the demonstration program. (c) Value-Based insurance design methodologies (1) Definition For purposes of this section, the term value-based insurance design methodology (2) Use of methodologies to reduce copayments and coinsurance A Medicare Advantage organization offering an eligible Medicare Advantage plan approved to participate under the demonstration program, for each plan year for which the plan is so selected and using value-based insurance design methodologies— (A) shall identify each prescription medication and clinical service covered under such plan for which the plan proposes to reduce or eliminate the copayment or coinsurance, with respect to the management of specific chronic clinical conditions (as specified by the Secretary) of Medicare Advantage eligible individuals (as defined in section 1851(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(a)(3) (B) may, for such plan year, reduce or eliminate copayments, coinsurance, or both for such prescription medication and clinical services so identified with respect to the management of such conditions of such individuals— (i) if such reduction or elimination is evidence-based and for the purpose of encouraging such individuals in such plan to use such prescription medications and clinical services (such as preventive care, primary care, specialty visits, diagnostic tests, procedures, and durable medical equipment) with respect to such conditions; and (ii) for the purpose of encouraging such individuals in such plan to use health care providers that such organization has identified with respect to such plan year as being high value providers; and (C) if a reduction or elimination is applied pursuant to subparagraph (B), with respect to such medication and clinical services, shall, for such plan year, count toward the deductible applicable to such individual under such plan amounts that would have been payable by the individual as copayment or coinsurance for such medication and services if the reduction or elimination had not been applied. (3) Prohibition of increases of copayments and coinsurance In no case may any Medicare Advantage plan participating in the demonstration program increase, for any plan year for which the plan is so participating, the amount of copayments or coinsurance for any item or service covered under such plan for purposes of discouraging the use of such item or service. (d) Report on implementation (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date on which the demonstration program under this section begins under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the implementation of the demonstration program. (2) Elements The report required by paragraph (1) shall, with respect to eligible Medicare Advantage plans participating in the demonstration program for the first plan year of such program, include the following: (A) A list of each medication and service identified pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A) for such plan with respect to such plan year. (B) For each such medication or service so identified, the amount of the copayment or coinsurance required under such plan with respect to such plan year for such medication or service and the amount of the reduction of such copayment or coinsurance from a previous plan year. (C) For each provider identified pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii) for such plan with respect to such plan year, a statement of the amount of the copayment or coinsurance required under such plan with respect to such plan year and the amount of the reduction of such copayment or coinsurance from the previous plan year. (e) Review and assessment of utilization of value-Based insurance design methodologies (1) In general The Secretary shall enter into a contract or agreement with an independent entity to review and assess the implementation of the demonstration program under this section. The review and assessment shall include the following: (A) An assessment of the utilization of value-based insurance design methodologies by Medicare Advantage plans participating under such program. (B) An analysis of whether reducing or eliminating the copayment or coinsurance for each medication and clinical service identified pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A) resulted in increased adherence to medication regimens, increased service utilization, improvement in quality metrics, better health outcomes, and enhanced beneficiary experience. (C) An analysis of the extent to which costs to Medicare Advantage plans under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act participating in the demonstration program is less than costs to Medicare Advantage plans under such part that are not participating in the demonstration program. (D) An analysis of whether reducing or eliminating the copayment or coinsurance for providers identified pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii) resulted in improvement in quality metrics, better health outcomes, and enhanced beneficiary experience. (E) An analysis, for each provider so identified, the extent to which costs to Medicare Advantage plans under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act participating in the demonstration program is less than costs to Medicare Advantage plans under such part that are not participating in the demonstration program. (F) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) Report The contract or agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall require such entity to submit to the Secretary a report on the review and assessment conducted by the entity under such paragraph in time for the inclusion of the results of such report in the report required by paragraph (3). Such report shall include a description, in clear language, of the manner in which the entity conducted the review and assessment. (3) Report to Congress Not later than 4 years after the date on which the demonstration program begins under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the review and assessment of the demonstration program conducted under this subsection. The report shall include the following: (A) A description of the results of the review and assessment included in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (2). (B) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for enhancing the utilization of the methodologies applied under the demonstration program to all Medicare Advantage plans under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act so as to reduce copayments and coinsurance under such plans paid by Medicare beneficiaries for high-value prescription medications and clinical services for which coverage is provided under such plans and to otherwise improve the quality of health care provided under such plans. (4) Oversight report Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the demonstration program that includes an assessment, with respect to individuals enrolled under Medicare Advantage plans approved to participate under the demonstration program, of the impact that the age, co-morbidities, and geographic regions of such individuals had upon the implementation of the demonstration program by the plans with respect to such individuals. (f) Savings In no case may any reduction in beneficiary copayments or coinsurance resulting from the implementation of the demonstration program under this section result in expenditures under parts A, B, and D of the title XVIII of the Social Security Act that are greater than such expenditures without application of this section. (g) Expansion of demonstration program Taking into account the review and assessment conducted under subsection (e), the Secretary may, through notice and comment rulemaking, expand (including implementation on a nationwide basis) the duration and scope of the demonstration program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, other than under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of such title, to the extent determined appropriate by the Secretary, if the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of subsection (c) of section 1115A of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315a (h) Waiver authority The Secretary may waive such provisions of titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act as may be necessary to carry out the demonstration program under this section. (i) Implementation funding For purposes of carrying out the demonstration program under this section, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i 42 U.S.C. 1395t 3. Preservation of Medicare beneficiary choice under Medicare Advantage Section 1851(e)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(e)(2) (1) in subparagraph (C)— (A) in the heading, by inserting from 2011 through 2015 45-day period (B) by inserting and ending with 2015 beginning with 2011 (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) Continuous open enrollment and disenrollment for first 3 months in 2016 and subsequent years (i) In general Subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (D)— (I) in the case of an MA eligible individual who is enrolled in an MA plan, at any time during the first 3 months of a year (beginning with 2016); or (II) in the case of an individual who first becomes an MA eligible individual during a year (beginning with 2016) and enrolls in an MA plan, during the first 3 months during such year in which the individual is an MA eligible individual; such MA eligible individual may change the election under subsection (a)(1). (ii) Limitation of one change during open enrollment period each year An individual may change the election pursuant to clause (i) only once during the applicable 3-month period described in such clause in each year. The limitation under this clause shall not apply to changes in elections effected during an annual, coordinated election period under paragraph (3) or during a special enrollment period under paragraph (4). (iii) Limited application to part D Clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph shall only apply with respect to changes in enrollment in a prescription drug plan under part D in the case of an individual who, previous to such change in enrollment, is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. (iv) Limitations on marketing Pursuant to subsection (j), no unsolicited marketing or marketing materials may be sent to an individual described in clause (i) during the continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period established for the individual under such clause, notwithstanding marketing guidelines established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. . 4. Treatment of infusion drugs furnished through durable medical equipment Section 1842(o)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(o)(1) (1) in subparagraph (C), by inserting (and including a drug or biological described in subparagraph (D)(i) furnished on or after January 1, 2017) 2005 (2) in subparagraph (D)— (A) by striking infusion drugs infusion drugs or biologicals (B) in clause (i)— (i) by striking 2004 2004, and before January 1, 2017 (ii) by striking for such drug 5. Sense of Congress regarding the implementation and distribution of quality incentive payments to Medicare Advantage plans It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services has incorrectly interpreted subsection (n) of section 1853 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23 (2) the Secretary should immediately apply quality incentive payments under such subsection (o) with respect to such Medicare Advantage plans without regard to the limits set forth in such subsection (n). June 16, 2015 Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means June 16, 2015 The Committee on Energy and Commerce

Summary: Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a three-year demonstration program (extendable if necessary to four or five years) to test the use of value-based insurance design methodologies under the eligible Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offered by MA organizations under part C (Medicare+Choice Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct). "Value-based insurance design methodology" is one for identifying specific prescription medications, and clinical services payable under Medicare, for which copayments, coinsurance, or both would improve the management of specific chronic clinical conditions because of the high value and effectiveness of such medications and services for such specific chronic clinical conditions, as approved by HHS. HHS may expand the duration and scope of the demonstration program to an appropriate extent if specified requirements are met. (Sec. 3) The annual 45-day period for disenrollment from MA plans to elect to receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service program, and to elect coverage under part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program), shall end on December 31, 2015. Starting in 2016, a Medicare Advantage eligible individual, during the first three months of any year, may change a previous election to elect to receive benefits through the original Medicare fee-for-service program or an MA plan, and to elect coverage under part D. This continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period during the first three months of any year starting in 2016 shall apply with respect to a prescription drug plan only in the case of an individual who, previous to such change in enrollment, is enrolled in a MA plan. No unsolicited marketing or marketing materials may be sent to such an eligible individual during the continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period. (Sec. 4) This bill also amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of SSAct title XVIII to revise requirements (in effect, changing payment methodologies from 95% of the Average Wholesale Price to the Average Sales Price plus six) for payments for infusion drugs and biologicals furnished through durable medical equipment on or after January 1, 2017. (Sec. 5) It is the sense of Congress that HHS: has incorrectly interpreted the determination of blended benchmark amounts as prohibiting any Medicare quality incentive payments with respect to MA plans that exceed the payment benchmark cap for the area served by those plans; and should immediately apply quality incentive payments with respect to such MA plans without regard to specified limits.