Transition (Carve-Out) of Pharmacy Benefit from Managed Care to Fee-For-Service (FFS)
All Stakeholder: Implementation Update
- Presentation also available in Portable Document Format (PDF)
January 19, 2021
Overview
Stakeholder Engagement Update
All Stakeholders: Monthly
Purpose:
NYS DOH will lead and provide all interest stakeholders with updates, facilitate a Q&A session, and incorporate feedback into the workplan as needed.Status:
- Monthly meetings ongoing starting with July 13 session
- Remaining meetings scheduled for third Monday of each month
Technical Workgroup: Bi-weekly
Purpose:
NYS DOH is leading working sessions with Medicaid Managed Care Plans (and other subject matter experts as needed) to address transition topics and incorporate feedback into the workplan as needed.Status:
- Topics covered include Roles & Responsibilities, Scope of Benefits, Data Sharing, Transition Strategy, Member & Provider Communication, Value-Based Payments, QARR Measures, Program Integrity, DME Supplies, and Model Contract, Managed Care Inquiry Process, Physician-Dispensed Drugs, Non-Enrolled Providers
- Will continue to focus on standing topics of data sharing, transition & communication activities, and provider enrollment and focus topic as needed
340B Advisory Group: Four Meetings
Purpose:
To provide non-binding recommendations by October 1, 2020 regarding the reimbursement of 340B claims.Status:
- 340B advisory group meetings held on 8/5, 8/26, 9/16.
- The state is finalizing a methodology to distribute the > $100 Million funding directly to 340B providers and engaging with stakeholders for feedback.
Key Deliverables and Timeline Update
Key Deliverables and Timeline Update
Deliverable(s) | Target Date |
---|---|
Complete Work Plan and Establish State Transition Team and 340B Advisory Group | June 2020 ✔️ |
Recurring Workgroup Calls with Health Plans and All Stakeholders begin | July 2020 ✔️ |
Frequently Asked Questions Posted to the NYS DOH Website | August 2020* ✔️ |
Finalize NYS DOH/Managed Care Plan Roles and Scope of Benefits | September 2020 ✔️ |
Consensus between the state and plans on data sharing concept | October 2020 ✔️ |
Deliver file formats, data dictionary, and process for daily claim file | November 2020 ✔️ |
Transition Analysis Conducted (e.g., Formulary, DME, OTC Comparisons), Changes Made To Smooth Transition and Transition Strategy Finalized | November 2020 ✔️ |
Identify Sections of the Model Contract that Require Changes | December 2020 ✔️ |
Notice of 1115 Waiver Amendment | December 2020 ✔️ |
Required System Changes Identified and Implemented | December 2020 ✔️ |
340B Related State Plan Amendment (SPA) Submitted (if necessary) | December 2020 ✔️ |
Initial Special Edition Medicaid Update Published | December 2020 ✔️ |
Systems Stress Testing Performed | January 2021 ✔️ |
Member and Provider Notifications Sent and Second Special Edition Medicaid Update Published | February 2021 |
Customer Service Staff Hired and Trained | February 2021 |
Make Required Changes to Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC), Carrier or Notice | March 2021 |
1115 Waiver Amendment and SPA Approved by CMS | March 2021 |
Go Live: Daily Calls with Stakeholders (through 4/30/2021 or Beyond as Needed) | By April 1, 2021 |
* Initial FAQs posted and will be regularly updated as project progresses.
Updates
Transition & Communications Activities
Transition & Communication Activities
- Upcoming Activities
- MCPs submit Initial Approved Prior Authorizations to NYS DOH - 1/22/21
- Upcoming Communication Activities
- NYS & MCP website updates - ongoing
- Notices - discussion on following slides
Outreach Strategy
General Member Notice of Change
Notify members that their pharmacy benefits will shift from Managed Care Plans to NYS Medicaid Fee-for- Service and provide them with relevant information about the program (MCPs)
Non-Enrolled Providers
Pharmacies, DMEPOS Suppliers, Prescribers*
- Provide targeted information to providers now serving managed care members who are not now enrolled in FFS of options to enroll or transition members (NYS and MCPs)
- Provide targeted notification to members with providers who have not enrolled in FFS so they can transition to new providers (MCPs)
*We will also conduct similar outreach following this approach for physician-dispensers of ineligible drugs
Non-Preferred Products
- Provide high-volume non-preferred product prescribers with general information regarding the Medicaid FFS preferred drug program (NYS)
- Provide targeted product-specific information to prescribers of non-preferred products so they can support patients in transitioning appropriate products (NYS)
- Provide targeted product-specific information to members who have non-preferred product prescriptions so they can consult with their prescribers to transition products as appropriate (NYS)
Outreach Timeline Target Dates
Provider Enrollment
- Medicaid Managed Care plans conducting outreach to in-network and high-volume out-of-network providers - January
- NYS conducting outreach to providers not enrolled in the Fee for Service (FFS) program
- Pharmacies enrolled only in managed care - completed December
- Outreach to remaining pharmacies, DMEPOS and prescribers - January
- State enrollment processes and operations being tuned to support transitional provider enrollment volumes - January
- NYS finalizing templates for member outreach for use by plans in March mailings - January
Data Sharing
Prior Authorization - honor managed care prior authorizations in fee-for service
- Initial test conducted and adjustments near completion
- Plans will transmit files to DOH for initial load - January
- NYS and Plans working to finalize approach to DMEPOS prior authorizations
Daily Claims File - provide the plans with data they need to support operations & care management
- First test file has been delivered to plans and review is underway
- Second test to be conducted in February
On-Demand Reporting - provide the plans with specific-purpose data to support operations and care management
- Priority reports have been identified (adherence, first fill) and are being developed for 4/1
FAQ Spotlight
FAQ Spotlight: General
FAQ 095 What is the latest date in which the State can decide to proceed or halt progress of the Pharmacy Transition? Additionally, how will the 1115 Waiver Application impact the Pharmacy Transition timeline if not approved by April 1, 2020?
Published: January 8, 2021
Pharmacy services are already authorized under the State Plan and this authority will apply state-wide starting April 1, 2021. The New York State´s Medicaid Section 1115 MRT Waiver (formerly known as the Partnership Plan) is the current authority under which the pharmacy benefit is delivered by the Managed Care Plans (MCPs). Since the pharmacy benefit is being transitioned to Fee- for-Service (FFS), the 1115 MRT Waiver is being amended accordingly to support the transition.
NYS DOH expects the pharmacy benefit to be transitioned from the MC to FFS effective April 1, 2021 per the enacted budget and does not intend to halt the progress.FAQ Spotlight: Provider Impact
FAQ 103 How will the Carve-Out impact the daily operations of Pharmacies? For example, if a member has Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) such as Fidelis or HealthFirst, how will our pharmacy submit claims for these members beginning April 1, 2021?
Published: January 8, 2021
Starting April 1, 2021, pharmacies will submit claims to the Medicaid Fee-For-Service (FFS) program, using the Client Identification Number (CIN), which can be found on the member’s Medicaid or the MMC plan Identification Card. Additional information regarding FFS claim submission can be found within the December 2020 Special Edition Medicaid Update.
Communications and Resources
Website Updates
- The following content has been added to the websitesince the last meeting:
- All Stakeholder- December 21 Presentation
- FAQ Update- January 8, 2021
- Website updates will continue to be communicated via the MRT LISTSERV.
Resources
Website: www.health.ny.gov/health_care/Medicaid/redesign/mrt2/
Information regarding the transition of the pharmacy benefit from Managed Care to FFS will be posted at the above website.Email: PPNO@health.ny.gov – Please write Carve-Out in the subject line
MRT LISTSERV: https://health.ny.gov/ealth_care/medicaid/redesign/listserv.htm
Q&A
Questions?
Please submit your question to All Panelists using the Q&A feature of the WebEx Event meeting.
Note: we have a fully remote panel for today’s event and so may need to provide responses to some or all of the questions in FAQs following the session.
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