CMS_BannerImageResponding to growing momentum for clinical nuance in Medicare Advantage, the V-BID Center has provided substantial comments on the recent CMS RFI regarding a V-BID demonstration project in Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PD).

These comments contain explicit, evidence-based recommendations to address some of Medicare’s most complex challenges regarding effective benefit design features, cost-sharing parameters, consumer/provider engagement methods, quality measures, actuarial value considerations, among other topics, while also exploring potential barriers to implementation.

This RFI capitalizes on ongoing interest in V-BID at the federal/legislative level. Earlier this September, US Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced legislation S.2783: The V-BID for Better Care Act of 2014. The bipartisan, bicameral bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a three-year demonstration program allowing participating MA plans to test V-BID principles of reduced copayments and coinsurance for high-performing providers, evidence-based medications, or clinical services related to specific chronic disease care, while prohibiting plans from increasing copayments or coinsurance. A companion bill was introduced by Representatives Diane Black (R-Tennessee) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) in July 2014.

Please feel free to share this resource with interested parties as well as to contact us with any questions.
For more information about V-BID in MA, please visit our Medicare Advantage initiative page.