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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerPolicy UpdatesReimbursement/Payment PolicyArizona AHCCCS Payment Reform Update | OpenPayer
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    CurrentArizona Health Care Cost Containment SystemPolicy N/A

    Arizona Long Term Care System Elderly and Physically Disabled Program Payment Reform Initiative

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    This policy governs the AHCCCS Payment Reform Initiative for all ALTCS Elderly and Physically Disabled Contractors for dates of service on and after October 1, 2014. It establishes shared-savings requirements, quality contributions and distributions, contractor certifications, annual reconciliation, and related payment adjustments.

    Policy Summary
    PayerArizona Health Care Cost Containment System
    PolicyArizona Long Term Care System Elderly and Physically Disabled Program Payment Reform Initiative
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeRevision
    Effective Date10/01/14
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionALTCS EPD Contractors must participate in the AHCCCS Payment Reform Initiative and pursue quality-improvement activities through shared-savings payment arrangements.
    SourceLink
    POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

    No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.

    1%Quality contribution
    5%Maximum quality distribution
    5%EPD shared-savings minimum
    2% + 2%Acute Care and Long Term Care minimums

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    1.5%MA-DSNP shared-savings minimum
    60 / 180 daysCertification deadlines

    Shared-Savings Qualification and Distribution

    Minimum shared-savings qualification criteria

    A Contractor qualifies for a quality distribution only if ALL of the following requirements are met and certified for the measurement year:

    ALL of the following

    • EPD contract requirements

      • At least 5% of total prospective provider payments

        • At least 5% of the value of total prospective payments under all contracts executed with health care providers must be governed by shared-savings arrangements for the measurement year.>= 5%
        • At least 2% of total Acute Care service payments under all contracts executed for those services must be governed by shared-savings arrangements for the measurement year.>= 2%
        • At least 2% of total Long Term Care service payments under all contracts executed for those services must be governed by shared-savings arrangements for the measurement year.>= 2%
        • Additional contracts, at the Contractor's discretion, must be governed by shared-savings arrangements so that 5% of total spending under all contracts is governed by shared-savings arrangements for the measurement year.
    • MA-DSNP ALTCS EPD Duals requirement

      • At least 1.5% of the value of total payments under all contracts with health care providers must be governed by shared-savings arrangements for the measurement year.>= 1.5%
    • Written shared-savings contracts must be executed no later than February 1.No later than February 1
    • Certification submissions

      • Submit an initial Payment Reform Initiative Shared Savings Arrangement Certification to the DHCM Finance Manager within 60 days of the start of the measurement year, together with an executed copy and an electronic Excel copy.Within 60 days of the start of the measurement year
      • Submit a final Payment Reform Initiative Shared Savings Arrangement Certification to the DHCM Finance Manager 180 days after the end of the measurement year, together with an executed copy and an electronic Excel copy.180 days after the end of the measurement year
      • If the executed copy and electronic template differ, the executed copy prevails.

    Quality distribution calculation and limits

    Quality distributions are calculated independently for each selected QMPM and reconciled annually as follows:

    ALL of the following

    • Each selected Quality Management Performance Measure is considered independently of the other measures, so a Contractor may earn a distribution on any or all QMPMs.
    • Performance Measure Score

      • QMPM result is equal to or above the minimum standard

        • The Contractor's QMPM result is equal to or above the Quality Management Minimum Performance Standard.>= MinStd
        • Performance Measure Score = Q × S × ([CMeasure − MinStd] / MinStd).
      • QMPM result is below the minimum standard

    Payment Thresholds and Certification Deadlines

    EPD total shared-savings arrangement minimum
    MinimumAt least 5%
    BasisValue of total prospective payments under all provider contracts
    PeriodMeasurement year
    EPD Acute Care shared-savings minimum
    MinimumAt least 2%
    BasisTotal Acute Care service payments under all provider contracts
    PeriodMeasurement year

    Contractor Responsibilities

    Note

    Participate in the Payment Reform Initiative

    ALTCS EPD Contractors must participate in the AHCCCS Payment Reform Initiative for applicable dates of service and pursue quality-improvement activities that support improved health outcomes and cost savings through shared-savings payment arrangements.

    Denial Risk

    Meet minimum qualification requirements

    To qualify for a quality distribution, the Contractor must meet and certify the minimum shared-savings qualifying criteria for both the EPD contract and the MA-DSNP contract for ALTCS EPD members. Failure to meet or certify these minimums disqualifies the Contractor from quality distributions for that measurement year, although its quality contribution remains assessed.

    Key Terms

    Adjustment Factor
    PurposeEnsures the total quality contribution amount by QMPM equals the total quality distribution amount by QMPM
    Applied toPerformance rank score
    VariationVaries by QMPM and the number of Contractors meeting minimum standards
    Measurement Year
    PeriodThe period for which the PRI policy applies
    BeginsOctober 1
    EndsSeptember 30
    Policy Summary
    PayerArizona Health Care Cost Containment System
    PolicyArizona Long Term Care System Elderly and Physically Disabled Program Payment Reform Initiative
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeRevision
    Effective Date10/01/14
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionALTCS EPD Contractors must participate in the AHCCCS Payment Reform Initiative and pursue quality-improvement activities through shared-savings payment arrangements.
    SourceLink
    On This Page
    Shared-Savings Qualification and DistributionPayment Thresholds and Certification DeadlinesContractor ResponsibilitiesKey Terms
    • The Contractor's QMPM result is below the Quality Management Minimum Performance Standard.< MinStd
    • Performance Measure Score = 0.
  1. Performance Rank Score = A × Q × R.
  2. Quality Distribution = Performance Measure Score + Performance Rank Score.
  3. The maximum distribution across all QMPMs to any Contractor is limited to 5% of annual Prospective Gross Capitation attributable to the ALTCS/EPD Payment Reform Initiative.<= 5%
  4. Quality contributions and quality distributions are settled through an annual reconciliation performed on a contract-year basis.
  5. Any amount due to or from the Contractor after reconciliation is paid or recouped through a future monthly capitation payment.
  6. EPD Long Term Care shared-savings minimum
    MinimumAt least 2%
    BasisTotal Long Term Care service payments under all provider contracts
    PeriodMeasurement year
    MA-DSNP ALTCS EPD Duals shared-savings minimum
    MinimumAt least 1.5%
    BasisValue of total payments under all provider contracts
    PopulationALTCS EPD Duals under the MA-DSNP contract
    Quality contribution
    Assessment1% of Prospective Gross Capitation
    PurposeFunds quality distributions
    ExclusionAcute Care Only payments are excluded
    Maximum quality distribution
    Maximum5% of annual Prospective Gross Capitation
    ScopeProspective Gross Capitation attributable to the ALTCS/EPD PRI
    ApplicationMaximum distribution across all QMPMs to any Contractor
    Initial certification deadline
    DeadlineWithin 60 days of the start of the measurement year
    SubmissionInitial Payment Reform Initiative Shared Savings Arrangement Certification
    RecipientDHCM Finance Manager
    Final certification deadline
    Deadline180 days after the end of the measurement year
    SubmissionFinal Payment Reform Initiative Shared Savings Arrangement Certification
    RecipientDHCM Finance Manager
    Contract execution deadline
    DeadlineNo later than February 1
    RequirementWritten shared-savings contracts shall be executed
    Applies toContracts governed by shared-savings arrangements
    Billing Rule

    Satisfy EPD shared-savings thresholds

    For the EPD contract, shared-savings arrangements must govern at least 5% of the value of total prospective payments under all contracts executed with health care providers for the measurement year.

    • At least 2% of total Acute Care service payments must be governed by shared-savings arrangements.
    • At least 2% of total Long Term Care service payments must be governed by shared-savings arrangements.
    • Additional contracts must bring the total governed spend to 5%.
    Billing Rule

    Satisfy MA-DSNP shared-savings threshold

    For the MA-DSNP contract for ALTCS EPD Duals, shared-savings arrangements must govern at least 1.5% of the value of total payments under all contracts with health care providers for the measurement year.

    Documentation Required

    Execute shared-savings contracts

    Execute all written shared-savings arrangement contracts no later than February 1.

    Documentation Required

    Submit shared-savings certifications

    Certify that the minimums will be met by submitting both an executed copy and an electronic Excel copy of the Payment Reform Initiative Shared Savings Arrangement Certification to the DHCM Finance Manager.

    • Submit the initial certification within 60 days of the start of the measurement year.
    • Submit the final certification 180 days after the end of the measurement year.
    • If the executed copy and electronic template differ, the executed copy prevails.
    Documentation Required

    Maintain auditable certification records

    Retain certification materials for potential review because AHCCCS reserves the right to require an audit of the certifications included in Attachment C.

    Billing Rule

    Review annual reconciliation

    Review the reconciliation data provided by AHCCCS and submit comments by the written deadline provided by AHCCCS. After the review period, AHCCCS will evaluate the comments and address issues as warranted.

    • The reconciliation establishes the amount due to or due from the Contractor.
    • Any resulting amount due to or from the Contractor is paid or recouped through a future monthly capitation payment.
    Performance Measure Score
    TypeOne of the two scores used in calculating the quality distribution
    BasisContractor performance relative to minimum performance standards
    Standards established byCQM
    Performance Rank Score
    TypeOne of the two scores used in calculating the quality distribution
    BasisPure ranking of the Contractor’s performance
    Used forCalculating the quality distribution
    Premium Tax
    DefinitionTax imposed pursuant to A.R.S. §36-2905
    Applies toAll payments made to Contractors
    PeriodContract year
    Prospective Gross Capitation
    FrequencyPayments made monthly to Contractors
    Before adjustments forNursing Facility enhanced payments
    IncludesMedical expense, reinsurance offset, share-of-cost offset, administration, case management, risk/contingency, premium tax, and subsequent amendments
    Quality Management Performance Measures
    DefinitionHealth care quality measures utilized by CQM
    PRI useSubsets of these measures were selected for use in the PRI
    ReferenceSee highlighted rows in Attachment A
    Quality Management Measurement Report
    FrequencyAnnual
    IssuerCQM
    ContentsResults by Contractor on QMPMs
    Quality Management Minimum Performance Standard
    DefinitionMinimum standard established by CQM for each QMPM
    Established byCQM
    Used to calculatePerformance measure score
    Quality Contribution
    DefinitionSpecified percentage of all Contractors’ Prospective Gross Capitation payments
    AssessmentThrough a reconciliation process
    PurposeFunds the PRI
    Quality Distribution
    DefinitionAmounts returned to Contractors by QMPM
    Based onPerformance measure score and performance rank score
    Recipient basisContractor results by QMPM
    Rank Factor
    DefinitionFactor applied in calculating a Contractor’s quality distribution amount
    BasisContractor’s rank for the performance rank score
    Used inQuality distribution calculation
    Scaling Factor
    DefinitionFactor applied in calculating a Contractor’s quality distribution amount
    BasisPerformance measurement score
    Used inQuality distribution calculation
    Arrangement
    FormWritten contract between a Contractor and provider
    PurposeDesigned to achieve cost savings and quantifiable improved outcomes
    SavingsShared between the Contractor and the provider