Performance Measurement for the Medicare Advantage Program

This posting provides notice that the Limited Sources Justification (LSJ) for the Performance Measurement for the Medicare Advantage Program procurement is being posted pursuant to GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(3)(i), which requires the ordering activity to publish a notice and post the justification within 14 days after placing an order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold that is supported by an LSJ. Section 1859(f)(5) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires that organizations offering specialized Medicare Advantage (MA) plans for special needs individuals have in place an evidenced-based model of care (MOC) with appropriate networks of providers and specialists. In addition, Section 1859(f)(7) of the Act requires that a Medicare Advantage Organization (MAO) offering a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals (i.e., special needs plan, or SNP) be approved by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) based on standards established by the Secretary.

This requirement is implemented at 42 CFR 422.101(f) and 422.152(g) and requires MAOs offering SNPs to have NCQA review and approve the required MOC each SNP submits to CMS on a regular basis. The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is a widely used set of health plan performance measures employed by both private and public health care purchasers to promote accountability and to assess the quality of care provided by managed care organizations. NCQA owns the proprietary rights to HEDIS and the system that collects HEDIS data.

It is the only organization authorized to add quality measurements to HEDIS and to provide technical assistance to commercial and Medicare health plans and auditors in the use of these measurements. Section 1853(o)(6)(A) of the Act states that the Secretary may require reporting of data under section 1852(e) for, and apply under this subsection, quality measures at the plan level for specialized MA plans for special needs individuals instead of at the contract level. The purpose of this task order is to support CMS in the evaluation and approval of each SNP's model of care (MOC).

As noted above, Section 1859(f)(7) of the Act and 42 CFR 422.4(a)(1)(iv), 422.101(f), and 422.152(g) require that each MAO offering a SNP must submit a MOC to be approved by NCQA. Please see the Attachments section of this notice for a complete copy of the approved LSJ. Note - This is NOT an active procurement opportunity but is instead a required posting of an approved LSJ subsequent to task order award.