S. Lawrence Kocot, Mark Hamelburg, and Philo Hall, attorneys in the firm's Health Care and Life Sciences practice, in the Washington, DC, office, and Thomas Hutchinson, a Strategic Advisor for EBG Advisors, Inc., in the Baltimore, MD, office, co-wrote an article titled "2015 Payment Notice and Final Call Letter: A Mixed Bag for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans."
Following is an excerpt:
On April 7, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (''CMS'') released the Announcement of Calendar Year (''CY'') 2015 Medicare Advantage (''MA'') Capitation Rates and Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies (''Announcement'') and Final Call Letter (''Call Letter'').
The Announcement follows and responds to public and stakeholder comments on the February 21, 2014, Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter. Specifically, the Announcement describes the payment and risk adjustment methodology changes that will affect 2015 payments for MA and Part D plans and the Part D and retiree drug program benefit parameters for 2015. The Call Letter outlines policy modifications and other considerations for plan sponsors preparing bids for the 2015 contract year, which are due by June 2, 2014.