CMS seeks input on SEP pre-enrollment verification pilot

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks input as it designs a pilot to evaluate the impact of verifying a consumer’s eligibility for a special enrollment period before they enroll. The agency intends to launch the pilot after 2017 open enrollment to assess how pre-enrollment verification impacts compliance, enrollment, continuity of coverage, the risk pool and other outcomes. Among other information, CMS seeks input on whether the pilot should be geographically targeted or focus on a subset of special enrollment periods, and how to measure its impact. Comments should be sent to SEP@cms.hhs.gov by Sept. 20. For more information, see the agency’s Frequently Asked Questions. AHA last month urged the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen the SEPs and implement pre-approval for their use, among other changes, to stabilize the insurance markets and encourage robust consumer and insurer participation.