Health Insurance Weekly Update, January 9, 2014

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent this bulletin at 01/09/2014 05:06 PM EST

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Weekly State Exchange

January 9, 2014

This Week's Update

  • ALERT: CCIIO Posts SMART FAQs 
  • GRANTS UPDATE: Progress Reports Due January 31, 2014 
  • GRANTS UPATE: Cloning of Progress Reports 
  • STATE Q&A: Eligibility and Enrollment
  • UPCOMING EVENTS: January 10 - 17 

Alert: CCIIO Posts SMART FAQs

On December 30, 2013, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) posted a document containing frequently asked questions (FAQs) to aid State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) in understanding the State-based Annual Reporting Tool (SMART) requirements. The SMART was developed in response to requests from states as a reporting tool to assist SBMs in complying with CMS reporting requirements. The goal of the SMART is to compile SBM reporting requirements into one easy-to-access tool. SMART provides SBMs with the ability to easily verify that all reporting requirements have been met and provides SBMs a way to share successes in their Marketplaces, as well as a means to inform CMS of any corrective actions that may be underway. A copy of these FAQs may be found on the CMS website.  

Grants Update: Progress Reports Due January 31, 2014

As a reminder to all Establishment grantees, semiannual progress reports (CAS, PPR-B, and IT-Prof) are due on January 31, 2014. The monthly budget supplemental reports are also due on January 31. A special thanks to all grantees who submitted the monthly budget supplemental in December. The recent access and permissions issues with the Online Data Collection (OLDC) system should now be resolved.

Grants Update: Cloning of Progress Reports

The OLDC system allows users to clone (or copy) all data from a previous period to a current report period. Reports can only be cloned within the same grant. For more guidance on the cloning feature in OLDC, click here to review a fact sheet. The CAS, PPR-B, and IT-Prof reports can be cloned from a previous report period. Grantees cannot use the cloning feature for the FIRST monthly budget supplemental report. Once the grantee submits its first monthly report, it can clone the following monthly submission, updating the data as appropriate. 

Events This Week

THursday, January 16

4:00–5:00 p.m. (EST) 
 Cluster Call: SBM Metrics

What: An open forum for discussion and questions related to metrics definitions, reporting frequency, data transfer, and barriers to data collection.

Who: All policy, data analytics, and IT staff who are responsible for submitting weekly, quarterly, and annual reports for outcomes and open enrollment metrics to CCIIO.

Why: Learn more about the SBM metrics data collection and reporting process.

Call-in: 877-267-1577 | Passcode: 992 296 833
 Webinar link:  https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/sbmmetrics116/
Host: Christina Daw

State Q&A

Q1: How will applicants sign and complete applications online and with a call center?

A1: States should follow their state law regarding e-signatures for online applications. The Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) accepts e-signatures online and verbal confirmations via the call center.

Q2: What happens when an issuer participating in the FFM receives advance premium tax credits (APTC) for a consumer, but the consumer does not pay his or her initial premium payment?

A2: An issuer participating in the FFM must receive the consumer’s initial premium payment in full prior to the effective date of coverage. If the initial premium payment is not paid in full, it will result in the policy’s cancellation or termination. SBMs and issuers participating in SBMs can set premium payment deadlines and cancellation policies that differ from the FFM’s. Individuals applying for coverage in these states should check with the SBM for premium payment deadlines and cancellation policies.
For general questions, or feedback, please contact: StateExchangeNews@cms.hhs.gov
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