Last month, CMS updated Chapters 13 and 14 from the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Manual (PDBM). These updates affect Part D plan sponsor operations as well as network and non-network pharmacies. In Chapter 13, CMS updated its guidance on premium and cost sharing subsidies for low-income beneficiaries under the Part D program. In Chapter 14, CMS updated its guidance on coordination of benefits. A selection of CMS’s updates to those chapters are highlighted below:

Chapter 13 – Premium and Cost-Sharing Subsidies for Low-Income Individuals (updated September 14, 2018)

• Updates guidance on the months’ and less than a month’s supply and the related application of the daily cost-sharing rule.

• Makes minor modifications to guidance on refunds and recoupments of cost-sharing and premium amounts.

• Updates the process for plan sponsors to seek Best Available Evidence documentation on behalf of the beneficiaries.

Chapter 14 – Coordination of Benefits (updated September 17, 2018)

• Liberalizes the plan notification requirements to give plan sponsors flexibility to design the Coordination of Benefits (COB) notification process so long as a new enrollee COB letter and annual letter is delivered, if warranted.

• Clarifies situations when cash purchases for covered Part D drugs is reasonable, such as when a pharmacy offers discounted prices through “loyalty programs or pharmacy coupons” that are not subsidized by purchases of drugs covered by Part D.

• Clarifies plan sponsor’s responsibility for adjudicating enrollee claims in accordance with Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) requirements, and for identifying and recovering and any Coordination of Benefits, MSP-related mistaken payments and submitting associated adjustments to CMS.

• Updates guidance on HIPAA business associate agreements in compliance with the 2013 changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and encouraged plan sponsors to execute the CMS Part D Transaction Facilitator BAA without modifications (unless required by state regulations).

• Updates guidance on plan sponsors use of Additional Beneficiary Information Initiatives when making Part B and D coverage determinations. This follows CMS’s announcement in the 2019 Final Call letter.

The updated chapters can be found on the CMS website.