MI DIFS Bulletin 2023-09-INS
2024 Form and Rate Filing Requirements for Stand-Alone Dental Plans ______________________________________
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Bulletin 2023-09-INS
In the matter of:
2024 Form and Rate Filing
Requirements for Stand-Alone Dental Plans
______________________________________/
Issued and entered
this 29th day of March 2023
by Anita G. Fox
Director
SECTION 1: CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR STAND-ALONE
DENTAL PLANS (SADPs) ON- AND OFF-MARKETPLACE
General Information
DIFS will continue to perform Plan Management functions for Plan Year 2024 (PY24). Plan Management
functions are part of DIFS’ regulatory role for products offered on- and off-Marketplace. Issuers will work
directly with DIFS to submit all Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP) application data in accordance with federal
and state guidelines. SERFF will be used by issuers to transmit information to DIFS, and DIFS will use SERFF
to transmit information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Issuers will again be required by CMS to be registered for the CCIIO Plan Management Community. This
platform will be utilized to issue all notices, including corrections and notification notices.
New Information
New information specific to Service Area, Network Adequacy, and Essential Community Providers (ECPs)
can be found in Section 1 of this Bulletin under the applicable headings.
HIOS has introduced the Marketplace Plan Management System (MPMS Module for PY24
submissions). CMS will be releasing additional information and offering issuer webinars. Issuers are
required to request access to the new module so they may use the New Plan Validation Workspace as
applicable.
Pursuant to the Draft Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for PY24 (Draft Notice), CMS requires SADP
issuers, as a condition of Marketplace certification, to use an enrollee’s age at the time of policy issuance or
renewal as the sole method to calculate an enrollee’s age for rating and eligibility purposes. This requirement
is applicable whether the SADP is sold on- or off-Marketplace.
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The Draft Notice also requires SADP issuers, as a condition of Marketplace certification, to submit guaranteed
rates. This requirement is applicable whether the SADP is sold on-or off-Marketplace.
Finally, the annual limitation on cost-sharing for PY24 will be $400 for one child and $800 for two or more
children.
NOTE: Issuers must adhere to the requirements in the Final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
and Final Letter to Issuers, once issued, if different from the Draft Notice and Draft Letter to Issuers.
New Plans and Recertification of SADPs
For PY24, DIFS’ process for certification and recertification of a SADP is consistent with the process used in
prior plan years. Issuers submitting previously approved plans for recertification will be required to submit
much of the same information as for prior plan years. Issuers submitting plans for certification for the first
time should review the pertinent federal and state guidance. The omission of any federal or state
requirement from this Bulletin should not be construed to mean that compliance with those
requirements is not necessary. For additional guidance, issuers are urged to refer to the 2024 Draft Letter
to Issuers (Draft Letter).
[3]
Timeline for SADP Submissions
Activity
Dates
SADP
Application
Submission and
Review Process
Michigan Filing Deadline
5/10/23
DIFS’ 1st transfer of plan data to CMS;
Transparency in Coverage and Plan ID
Crosswalk Templates submission deadline
6/14/23
CMS reviews and posts initial SADP application
results in PM Community
6/15/23 to 7/14/23
DIFS’ 2nd transfer of plan data to CMS
7/19/23
Final Review
DIFS’ final transfer of plan data to CMS
8/16/23
CMS reviews and posts final SADP applications
results in PM Community
8/17/23 to 9/11/23
SADP
Agreement/
Final
Certification
CMS sends Certification Notices
9/12/23
Limited data correction window and last date to
withdraw plans
9/14/23 to 9/15/23
CMS posts SADP agreements; Issuers send
signed agreements; States confirm final SADP
recommendations
10/3/23 to 10/4/23
Open Enrollment
11/1/23 to 12/15/23
[4]
PY24 SADP Filing Requirements
A complete submission includes the SERFF Form/Rate Filing and Binder, with all required validated
templates and associated items, as outlined in Exhibit 1. Issuers are required to run the PY24 QHP
Application Review Tools, including the Data Integrity Tool for the initial and all subsequent template
submissions. Review tool results containing errors must be corrected prior to submission.
All template revisions made during DIFS’ review must be uploaded to the same locations as originally filed
i.e., filing, Binder, or both. See Exhibit 1.
Note: only one Business Rules Template and Transparency in Coverage Template needs to be completed.
Each template must include both individual and small group plans and be submitted in the SERFF Binder,
regardless of Marketplace participation.
PY24 SADP Checklist Requirements
Checklists that must be completed and filed as shown in Exhibit 1 are:
•
Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Forms (FIS 2305)
• Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Rates (FIS 2304); and
•
Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Network Adequacy (FIS 2314)
Revisions to Previously Approved SADP Forms: Red-Lined Versions
Issuers revising previously approved SADP forms must provide red-lined versions, as well as clean versions.
The red-lined and clean versions should both be filed in the Forms Schedule tab of the SERFF Form/Rate
filing under the same document number. Note: forms not being revised must still be submitted.
Forms must be SADP-specific. Forms must not include variable bracketed fields for use interchangeably with
non-SADP forms.
File Naming
Certain items in the Supporting Documentation tab in the Form/Rate filing and/or the Binder filing must adhere
to a standard naming convention as follows: IssuerName_MIFormDescription_Version#.
The purpose of adherence to a standard naming convention is to have the ability to track new versions as
they are updated. It is important to start with Version 1 and use the same issuer name and form description
in the file name each time. In addition, all review tools must be run each time a template is revised.
Items that are required to have a standard naming convention are:
• DIFS SADP Forms Checklist;
• DIFS SADP Rates Checklist;
• DIFS SADP Network Adequacy Checklist;
• Rates Table Template;
• Actuarial Memorandum;
• MI Uniform Modification Justification Form;
[5]
• Justifications and Attestations; and
• Any document that is amended from its original version that is not automatically versioned through
SERFF
SERFF Filings
All federal and Michigan-specific templates must be filed in Excel formats. Do not submit templates in PDF.
Additionally, do not submit templates in the Supporting Documentation tab of the Binder, except for the Plan
ID Crosswalk and Michigan Network Adequacy Templates.
Under Section 234 of the Michigan Insurance Code, MCL 500.234, the Director has the discretion to
designate certain records to be nonpublic. Accordingly, issuers have the option to mark their filings as
confidential upon submission. The filings will remain confidential until one day after the submission deadline
at which time DIFS will make the filings public.
Guaranteed Renewability
Although SADPs are considered excepted benefits, and therefore not subject to federal guaranteed
renewability requirements, CMS will apply the Plan ID Crosswalk Template to SADPs in order to support
automatic re-enrollment for plans offered during PY24.
Plan Withdrawal
Plans may be withdrawn in accordance with the process in the Draft Letter. The final opportunity to withdraw
plans will be during the plan confirmation process. Issuers opting to withdraw must submit the following in
both the SERFF Form/Rate filing and Binder:
1. A completed CMS Plan Withdrawal form for plans offered either on-Marketplace or on- and off-
Marketplace or a list of plans to be withdrawn for those offered off-Marketplace only;
2. A letter to the DIFS Director outlining the issuer’s intent and how it will comply with both state and
federal guaranteed renewability and availability requirements; and
3. A copy of the proposed letter that will be sent to enrollees/consumers outlining the issuer’s intent
and detailing all options available to the enrollee/consumer, including seeking coverage from a
different issuer. This letter must not be sent to enrollees/consumers until approved by DIFS.
Note: Do not make changes to templates.
Uniform Modification and Plan ID Crosswalk
DIFS requires that the MI Uniform Modification Justification Form (FIS 2316) and Plan ID Crosswalk
Template be submitted as shown on Exhibit 1.
CMS requires that the Plan ID Crosswalk Template, together with authorization from DIFS, be submitted for
SADPs in the individual market. The deadline for this submission is June 14, 2023.
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Licensure and Good Standing
DIFS will review the licensure status of all issuers filing SADPs on- and/or off-Marketplace.
Annual Limit on Cost-Sharing
The PY24 out-of-pocket maximums for Marketplace-certified SADPs are $400 for one covered child and $800
for two or more covered children.
Service Area
DIFS does not permit service areas with partial counties for SADPs.
Issuers should inform DIFS of any service area data change through the SERFF binder and include all
templates and supporting documentation impacted.
After DIFS’ final transfer August 16, 2023, service area data may only be changed with DIFS’ approval and
submission of a Data Change Request (DCR) to CMS, even if the change is directed by DIFS or CMS.
Submission of the DCR to CMS is through the Plan Management Community and must include an
explanation and justification for the change(s), evidence of state approval, and the DCR Supplement.
Service area data changes include:
1. Revising Service Area Template to:
a. change any service area name or ID
b. add or remove a service area
c. add or remove a county/ies to a service area
2. Revising the Plans and Benefits Template (PBT) to:
a. change a Service Area ID
b. add or remove a Service Area ID
3. Any change to the list of counties associated with a particular plan
Any service area data change must be reflected on the new Michigan Network Adequacy Template (FIS
2385).
For more information, see CMS' QHP Information and Guidance for Service Area and Data Change Windows.
Network Adequacy
New for PY24
• Issuers will use DIFS’ new Michigan Network Adequacy Template (FIS 2385) and not
the Michigan Network Data Template (FIS 2273) to collect detailed provider data. Note
for this template:
o Instructions included in template file
o Collection of whether individual providers:
Submitted claims in past six months
Offer telehealth
o Required use of CMS’ Health Service Delivery (HSD) individual provider and
[7]
facility specialties and codes
o Revised county designations
o Collection of network name, service area name and ID, and whether service area
covers entire state
o Naming Convention:
[HIOS ID]_[Med/SADP]_[Ind/SG]_MI NA Temp_ v[#]
• DIFS is adopting CMS’:
o HSD individual provider and facility specialties and codes (replacing DIFS’
preferred terminology for provider types and sub-specialties
o Time and distance standards accessed at the county level
o Requirement for access to at least one provider for at least 90% of enrollees
o Five county classifications/designations based on population size and density
o Appointment Wait Time Standards
o Collection of whether individual providers offer telehealth
• Appointment Wait Time Attestations (issuer created)
• Network Adequacy Justifications (issuer created)
The Michigan Network Adequacy Guidance reflects network sufficiency requirements and standards. See
also Checklist for Individual and Small Group Stand-Alone Dental Plans – Network Adequacy (FIS 2314),
CMS’ PY24 Draft Letter, Draft Notice, and QHP Certification Information and Guidance.
Essential Community Providers
New for PY24:
• DIFS is adopting CMS’ ECP Standards
•
ECP Justification Form to be completed when issuers do not meet the 35 percent threshold
of available ECPs in each plan’s service area, including detail of issuer’s efforts to
demonstrate compliance.
Issuers must complete CMS’ ECP/NA template in accordance with CMS’ instructions generally with respect
to the ECP data. For the network adequacy portion, issuers should only submit information necessary to
validate the template (i.e., generate the Individual Providers (NA) and Facility Providers (NA) tabs via the
User Control tab and enter at least one complete line of information for each new tab), actual and dummy
data are acceptable.
Issuers must run the SADP ECP Tool and submit the results in Supporting Documentation of SERFF binder.
See CMS’ web page QHP Certification Application Materials for Application Instructions, ECP and Network
Adequacy, and Review Tools.
SECTION 2: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
Readability
Submitted forms must comply with the following readability standards found under MCL 500.2236(3):
1. Each form entered in the SERFF Forms Schedule tab shall include the form’s readability score.
2. The readability score must be based on the Microsoft Word Flesch Reading Ease test and have a
[8]
score of 45 or higher. Forms with a Microsoft Word Flesch Reading Ease score lower than 45 will
not be approved by DIFS or transferred to CMS for certification.
3. Dental policies and certificates with more than 3,000 words printed on not more than three pages, or
more than three pages of text regardless of the number of words, shall contain a table of contents.
(This requirement does not apply to riders or endorsements.)
4. Be printed in font size not less than 10 point.
Dependent Coverage
Essential Health Benefit (EHB) coverage for pediatric services is required for enrollees until at least the end
of the month in which the enrollee turns 19 years of age.
Internal Formal Grievance and External Review Procedures
SADPs offered by commercial issuers must offer a formal grievance procedure pursuant to MCL 500.2213
and adhere to the external review process under the Patient’s Right to Independent Review Act (PRIRA), PA
251 of 2000 (MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929). These procedures must be part of the policy and submitted for
approval with the SADP filing. If the issuer has DIFS-approved grievance and external review procedures,
these must be filed in the Supporting Documentation tab of the SERFF Form/Rate filing.
Complaint and Grievance Policy and Procedures must include information on DIFS’ Health Care Appeals –
Request for External Review (FIS 0018) and contact information for DIFS including fax number, email
address, and mailing address.
Marketplace Certification
All SADPs intended to be EHB-compliant must be Marketplace-certified, even if the plan will not be marketed
on-Marketplace. The only SADPs that can be considered to provide EHB must have followed the certification
process and have been approved and recommended for certification to CMS.
SECTION 3: RATING
DIFS will not accept more than one filing per market (individual or small group). Issuers that offer various
types of offerings, such as on- and off-Marketplace or pediatric and adult, must submit all filings in the same
Form/Rate filing. SADP issuers may submit more than one actuarial memorandum or format their actuarial
memorandum to adequately address their entire filing.
All SADP issuers must complete a separate Rates Table Template for individual and small group markets.
The Draft Notice also requires SADP issuers, as a condition of Marketplace certification, to submit guaranteed
rates. This requirement is applicable whether the SADP is sold on-or off-Marketplace.
Issuers may continue to offer pediatric dental EHBs at any actuarial value (AV). SADP issuers must, however,
certify the AV and provide the AV development of each SADP plan.
SADP Michigan rate filings must include the following components:
• Rate manual showing only Michigan-specific rates;
[9]
• Sample rate calculation;
• Michigan Rate Checklist for SADPs; and
• Actuarial memorandum addressing items from the Michigan Rate Checklist, including:
o Description and exhibits showing the development of rates from the experience; and
o Derivation of the EHB apportionment percentage for pediatric dental (individual plans only)
Any questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to:
Department of Insurance and Financial Services
Office of Insurance Rates and Forms
530 W. Allegan Street—7th Floor
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Toll Free: (877) 999-6442
/s/
__________________________________
Anita G. Fox
Director
[10]
Exhibit 1 – FORMS
PY24 Stand Alone Dental Plans Filing Requirements
Requires Submission via SERFF
Federal Required Templates
On- and On-/Off-
Marketplace
Off-Marketplace
SERFF Location:
Essential Community Providers/Network Adequacy
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Plans and Benefits
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Service Area
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Network ID
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Rates Table
Yes
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Business Rules – One per Issuer, include both Individual and Small
Group on the same template
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Plan ID Crosswalk (Individual only; Supporting Documentation
tab)
Yes
No
Binder only
Transparency in Coverage – One per Issuer, include both
Individual and Small Group on the same template
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Filing Deadline
5/10/2023
[11]
Requires Submission via SERFF
Michigan Required Supporting Documentation
On- and On-/Off-
Marketplace
Off-Marketplace
SERFF Location:
Michigan Network Adequacy Template (FIS 2385) (New PY24)
(Supporting Documentation tab)
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Network Attestation
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Network Coverage Attestation
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Appointment Wait Time Attestation
Yes
Yes
Binder only
SADP ECP Tool Analysis/Results
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Network Submission Summary
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Forms
Yes
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Checklist for Individual and Small Group SADP – Network Adequacy
Yes
Yes
Binder only
MI Uniform Modification Justification Form
Yes
Yes
Form/Rate Filing & Binder
Network Adequacy Justification, as applicable (New PY24)
Yes
Yes
Binder only
ECP Justification, as applicable (New PY24)
Yes
Yes
Binder only
Filing Deadline
5/10/2023
NOTE: All required templates must be completed and, if applicable, validated before uploading to SERFF. Use of PY24 QHP Application Review Tools including the
Data Integrity Tool is required for the initial template submission and any subsequent submission. All template revisions must be uploaded to the same locations as
originally filed (i.e., SERFF Form/Rate Filing, Binder or BOTH).