SNP Reauthorization Act of 2017

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide continued access to specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Special Needs Plans Reauthorization Act of 2017 SNP Reauthorization Act of 2017 2. Specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals (a) Extension Section 1859(f)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(1) (1) by striking and for periods before January 1, 2019 (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: In the case of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subsection (b)(6)(B), the previous sentence shall apply for periods before January 1, 2024. (b) Increased integration of dual SNPs (1) In general Section 1859(f) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f) (A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) The plan meets the requirements applicable under paragraph (8). ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (8) Increased integration of dual SNPs (A) Designated contact The Secretary, acting through the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office established under section 2602 of Public Law 111–148 (i) establish a uniform process for disseminating to State Medicaid agencies information under this title impacting contracts between such agencies and such plans under this subsection; and (ii) establish basic resources for States interested in exploring such plans as a platform for integration, such as a model contract or other tools to achieve those goals. (B) Unified grievances and appeals process (i) In general Not later than April 1, 2020, the Secretary shall establish procedures, to the extent feasible as determined by the Secretary, unifying grievances and appeals procedures under sections 1852(f), 1852(g), 1902(a)(3), 1902(a)(5), and 1932(b)(4) for items and services provided by specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) under this title and title XIX. The Secretary shall solicit comment in developing such procedures from States, plans, beneficiaries and their representatives, and other relevant stakeholders. With respect to items and services described in the previous sentence, appeals procedures established under this clause shall apply in place of otherwise applicable appeals procedures. (ii) Procedures The procedures established under clause (i) shall be included in the plan contract under paragraph (3)(D) and shall— (I) adopt the provisions for the enrollee that are most protective for the enrollee and, to the extent feasible as determined by the Secretary, are compatible with unified timeframes and consolidated access to external review under an integrated process; (II) take into account differences in State plans under title XIX to the extent necessary; (III) be easily navigable by an enrollee; and (IV) include the elements described in clause (iii), as applicable. (iii) Elements described Both unified appeals and unified grievance procedures shall include, as applicable, the following elements described in this clause: (I) Single written notification of all applicable grievances and appeal rights under this title and title XIX. For purposes of this subparagraph, the Secretary may waive the requirements under section 1852(g)(1)(B) when the specialized MA plan covers items or services under this part or under title XIX. (II) Single pathways for resolution of any grievance or appeal related to a particular item or service provided by specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) under this title and title XIX. (III) Notices written in plain language and available in a language and format that is accessible to the enrollee, including in non-English languages that are prevalent in the service area of the specialized MA plan. (IV) Unified timeframes for grievances and appeals processes, such as an individual’s filing of a grievance or appeal, a plan’s acknowledgment and resolution of a grievance or appeal, and notification of decisions with respect to a grievance or appeal. (V) Requirements for how the plan must process, track, and resolve grievances and appeals, to ensure beneficiaries are notified on a timely basis of decisions that are made throughout the grievance or appeals process and are able to easily determine the status of a grievance or appeal. (iv) Continuation of benefits pending appeal The unified procedures under clause (i) shall, with respect to all benefits under parts A and B and title XIX subject to appeal under such procedures, incorporate provisions under current law and implementing regulations that provide continuation of benefits pending appeal under this title and title XIX. (C) Requirement for unified grievances and appeals For 2022 and subsequent years, the contract of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) with a State Medicaid agency under paragraph (3)(D) shall require the use of unified grievances and appeals procedures as described in subparagraph (B). (D) Requirements for full integration for certain dual SNPs (i) Requirement For 2021 and subsequent years, a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) shall meet one or more of the following requirements for integration of benefits under this title and title XIX: (I) Meet the requirements of a fully integrated plan described in section 1853(a)(1)(B)(iv)(II) (other than the requirement that the plan have similar average levels of frailty, as determined by the Secretary, as the PACE program). (II) Enter into a capitated contract with the State Medicaid agency to provide long-term services and supports or behavioral health services, or both. (III) To the extent the State does not allow for or require such a specialized MA plan to enter into a capitated contract described in subclause (II), enter into another type of integration arrangement, as determined appropriate by the Secretary after consultation with stakeholders, such as by— (aa) entering into a contract with the State that requires notifying the State in a timely manner of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and hospital or nursing home discharges of enrollees or otherwise requires sharing data that would benefit the coordination of items and services under this title and the State plan under title XIX; or (bb) offering, by a parent organization, a Medicaid managed care plan that provides long term services and supports or behavioral health services to the same enrollees as under such specialized MA plan. (ii) Sanctions For 2021 and subsequent years, if the Secretary determines that a specialized MA plan fails to comply with clause (i), the Secretary may provide for the application against the Medicare Advantage organization offering the plan any of the remedies described in section 1857(g)(2). . (2) Conforming amendment to responsibilities of Federal Coordinated Health Care Office Section 2602(d) of Public Law 111–148 42 U.S.C. 1315b(d) (6) To act as a designated contact for States under subsection (f)(8)(A) of section 1859 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28 (7) To be responsible for developing regulations and guidance related to the implementation of a unified grievance and appeals process as described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 1859(f)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(8) (8) To be responsible for developing regulations and guidance related to the integration or alignment of policy and oversight under the Medicare program under title XVIII of such Act and Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act regarding specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) of such section 1859. . (c) Improvements to severe or disabling chronic condition SNPs (1) Care management requirements Section 1859(f)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(5) (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (B) in clause (ii), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (C) by striking all SNPs all SNPs (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the requirements ; and (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) Improvements to care management requirements for severe or disabling chronic condition SNPs For 2020 and subsequent years, in the case of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii), the requirements described in this paragraph include the following: (i) The interdisciplinary team under subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) includes a team of providers with demonstrated expertise, including training in an applicable specialty, in treating individuals similar to the targeted population of the plan. (ii) Requirements developed by the Secretary to provide face-to-face encounters with individuals enrolled in the plan not less frequently than on an annual basis. (iii) As part of the model of care under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the results of the initial assessment and annual reassessment under clause (ii)(I) of such subparagraph of each individual enrolled in the plan are addressed in the individual’s individualized care plan under clause (ii)(II) of such subparagraph. (iv) As part of the annual evaluation and approval of such model of care, the Secretary shall take into account whether the plan fulfilled the previous year’s goals (as required under the model of care). (v) The Secretary shall establish a minimum benchmark for each element of the model of care of a plan. The Secretary shall only approve a plan's model of care under this paragraph if each element of the model of care meets the minimum benchmark applicable under the preceding sentence. . (2) Revisions to the definition of a severe or disabling chronic conditions specialized needs individual (A) In general Section 1859(b)(6)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6)(B)(iii) (i) by striking who have (I) before January 1, 2022, have ; (ii) in subclause (I), as added by clause (i), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subclause: (II) on or after January 1, 2022, have one or more comorbid and medically complex chronic conditions that is life threatening or significantly limits overall health or function, have a high risk of hospitalization or other adverse health outcomes, and require intensive care coordination and that is listed under subsection (f)(9)(A). . (B) Panel of clinical advisors Section 1859(f) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f) (9) List of conditions for clarification of the definition of a severe or disabling chronic conditions specialized needs individual (A) In general Not later than December 31, 2020, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall convene a panel of clinical advisors to establish and update a list of conditions that meet each of the following criteria: (i) Conditions that meet the definition of a severe or disabling chronic condition under subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii) on or after January 1, 2022. (ii) Conditions that require prescription drugs, providers, and models of care that are unique to the specific population of enrollees in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in such subsection on or after such date and— (I) as a result of such special needs individuals with such a condition having access to and being enrolled in such a plan, as compared to access to and enrollment in other Medicare Advantage plans under this part, it is projected that such individuals would improve health outcomes with respect to such condition, that such individuals would have reduced overall costs under this title, and that there would not be any increase in expenditures under this title for such individuals; or (II) have a low prevalence in the general population of beneficiaries under this title or a disproportionally high per-beneficiary cost under this title. (B) GAO Study on Health Outcomes of Individuals Enrolled in Specialized MA plans Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the extent to which health outcomes can be compared across specialized MA plans for special needs individuals (as defined in section 1859(b)(6)) and other Medicare Advantage plans under this part across similar populations, using existing measures and that identifies any potential limitations where new measures may need to be developed for such population. . (d) Quality measurement at the plan level for SNPs and determination of feasability of quality measurement at the plan level for all MA plans Section 1853(o) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o) (6) Quality measurement at the plan level for SNPs (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may require reporting of data under section 1852(e) for, and apply under this subsection, quality measures at the plan level for specialized MA plans for special needs individuals instead of at the contract level. (B) Considerations Prior to applying quality measurement at the plan level under this paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) take into consideration the minimum number of enrollees in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals in order to determine if a statistically significant or valid measurement of quality at the plan level is possible under this paragraph; (ii) if quality measures are reported at the plan level, ensure that MA plans are not required to provide duplicative information; and (iii) ensure that such reporting does not interfere with the collection of encounter data submitted by MA organizations or the administration of any changes to the program under this part as a result of the collection of such data. (C) Application If the Secretary applies quality measurement at the plan level under this paragraph— (i) such quality measurement may include Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS), Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) measures and quality measures under part D; and (ii) the Secretary shall consider applying administrative actions, such as remedies described in section 1857(g)(2), to the plan level. (7) Determination of feasibility of quality measurement at the plan level for all MA plans (A) Determination of feasibility The Secretary shall determine the feasibility of requiring reporting of data under section 1852(e) for, and applying under this subsection, quality measures at the plan level for all MA plans under this part. (B) Consideration of change After making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider requiring such reporting and applying such quality measures at the plan level as described in such subparagraph. . (e) GAO study and report on State-Level integration between dual SNPs and Medicaid (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States (in this paragraph referred to as the Comptroller General 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28 42 U.S.C. 1396 (A) The characteristics of States in which the State agency responsible for administering the State plan under such title XIX has a contract with such a specialized MA plan and that delivers long term services and supports under the State plan under such title XIX through a managed care program, including the requirements under such State plan with respect to long term services and supports. (B) The types of such specialized MA plans, which may include the following: (i) A plan described in section 1853(a)(1)(B)(iv)(II) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(a)(1)(B)(iv)(II) (ii) A plan that meets the requirements described in subsection (f)(3)(D) of such section 1859. (iii) A plan described in clause (ii) that also meets additional requirements established by the State. (C) The characteristics of individuals enrolled in such specialized MA plans. (D) As practicable, the following with respect to State programs for the delivery of long term services and supports under such title XIX through a managed care program: (i) Which populations of individuals are eligible to receive such services and supports. (ii) Whether all such services and supports are provided on a capitated basis or if any of such services and supports are carved out and provided through fee-for-service. (E) As, practicable, how the availability and variation of integration arrangements of such specialized MA plans offered in States affects spending, service delivery options, access to community-based care, and utilization of care. (F) Barriers and opportunities for making further progress on dual integration, as well as recommend legislation to expedite or refine pathways toward fully integrated care. (2) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. 3. Expanding supplemental benefits to meet the needs of chronically ill medicare advantage enrollees (a) In general Section 1852(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(a)(3) (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking Each Subject to subparagraph (D), each (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Expanding supplemental benefits to meet the needs of chronically ill enrollees (i) In general For plan year 2020 and subsequent plan years, in addition to any supplemental health care benefits otherwise provided under this paragraph, an MA plan, including a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6) of section 1859, may provide supplemental benefits described in clause (ii) to a chronically ill enrollee (as defined in clause (iii)). (ii) Supplemental benefits described (I) In general Supplemental benefits described in this clause are supplemental benefits that, with respect to a chronically ill enrollee, have a reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall function of the chronically ill enrollee and may not be limited to being primarily health related benefits. (II) Authority to waive uniformity requirements The Secretary may, with respect to supplemental benefits provided to a chronically ill enrollee under this subparagraph, waive the uniformity requirement, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (iii) Chronically ill enrollee defined In this subparagraph, the term chronically ill enrollee (I) has one or more comorbid and medically complex chronic conditions that is life threatening or significantly limits the overall health or function of the enrollee; (II) has a high risk of hospitalization or other adverse health outcomes; or (III) requires intensive care coordination. . (b) GAO Study And Report (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States (in this subsection referred to as the Comptroller General 42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6) (A) The type of supplemental benefits provided to such enrollees, the total number of enrollees receiving each supplemental benefit, and whether the supplemental benefit is covered by the standard benchmark cost of the benefit or with an additional premium. (B) The frequency in which supplemental benefits are utilized by such enrollees. (C) The impact supplemental benefits have on— (i) indicators of the quality of care received by such enrollees, including overall health and function of the enrollees; (ii) the utilization of items and services for which benefits are available under the original Medicare fee-for-service program option under parts A and B of such title XVIII by such enrollees; and (iii) the amount of the bids submitted by Medicare Advantage Organizations for Medicare Advantage plans under such part C. (2) Report Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. December 21, 2017 Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means December 21, 2017 The Committee on Energy and Commerce

Summary: Special Needs Plans Reauthorization Act of 2017 or the SNP Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill allows a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, until 2024, to restrict plan enrollment to certain special-needs individuals, provided that the plan meets specified applicable requirements. Current law allows an MA plan to do so until 2019. The Federal Coordinated Health Care Office within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall serve as a dedicated point of contact for states with regard to special-needs MA plans for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. The CMS shall establish a unified process for grievances and appeals for individuals enrolled in such plans. The CMS must, with respect to special-needs MA plans for individuals with chronic conditions, convene a panel of clinical advisors to establish and update the list of chronic conditions that make an individual eligible for participation in such a plan. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must study and report to Congress on health outcomes of individuals enrolled in specialized MA plans. The CMS shall, with respect to special-needs MA plans, consider applying certain quality measures at the plan level rather than at the contract level. The GAO must report to Congress on state-level integration between the Medicaid program and special-needs MA plans for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. (Sec. 3) Beginning in plan year 2020, an MA plan may provide certain supplemental benefits to chronically ill enrollees. The GAO must report to Congress on the provision of such supplemental benefits to MA enrollees.