2026 Form, Rate, & Network Adequacy Filing Requirements Including Qualified Health Plan Certification

April 14, 2025 Page 2 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov Healthcare Co-Ops, Student Health Plans, and Multi-State Plans ….. 7 Stand-Alone Dental Plans ………………………………………………………….. 7 Large Employer Group Insurance …………………………………….............. 7 Filing Fee ………………………………………………………………………….……… 8 Medical Rate Filings ………………………………………………………………….............. 8 Network Adequacy ……………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Technical Assistance for Issuers & Consumer Complaint Handling …………… 14 Contact Information ……………………………………………………………………………… 14 Due to federal requirements, the timeline for filing plans and rates for 2026 is the same for both qualified health plan (QHP) issuers and health issuers with no QHPs. Filing Requirements for Montana Due Date Binder, Form, & Network Info Due May 14, 2025 Rate Filings Due May 14-June 6, 2025 Initial Rate Transfer to CMS June 11, 2025 Final day for Issuers to make changes to Binder, Form, and Rates July 30, 2025 CMS Binder Final Deadline August 13, 2025 ITEMS OF NOTE FOR 2026 1) Unified Rate Review Template (URRT). The updated URRT and corresponding URR instructions have been released by CMS and are required for 2026 rate filings. Please see: • https://www.qhpcertification.cms.gov/s/Unified%20Rate%20Review 2) New Actuarial Value (AV) Calculator. CMS has released a new AV Calculator and methodology for 2026 that can be found here: • https://www.cms.gov/files/document/revised-final-2026-av-calculatormethodology-002pdf.pdf • https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cms. gov%2Ffiles%2Fdocument%2Frevised-final-2026-avcalculator.xlsm&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK%20Revised%20Final%202026%20Actua rial%20Value%20Calculator%20Methodology%20(PDF)%20[cms.gov]%20https://w ww.cms.gov/files/document/revised-final-2026-av-calculator-methodology- 002pdf.pdf 3) Expanded Eligibility Advanced Premium Tax Credits (eAPTCs)- As of the date of issuance of this memorandum, Congress has not taken action to extend the enhanced and expanded APTCs enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan Act beyond December April 14, 2025 Page 3 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov 31, 2025. For the plan year (PY) 2026, CSI requires issuers to file ONE set of rates under the assumption that the eAPTCs will expire. CSI will not accept rate filings with multiple rates for multiple contingencies. However, issuers should internally model both scenarios (continuation and expiration of eAPTCs) in preparation for possible Congressional action prior to August 2025. If legislation is enacted extending the eAPTCs after the initial filing deadline, CSI will provide additional guidance to issuers regarding any necessary adjustments to rate filings. 4) Defrayal of State Mandated benefits. In the current 2025 Montana legislative session, HB 607 was introduced to amend § 33-22-128, MCA, to require insurers to provide coverage for individuals of all ages with hearing loss, whereas the current version of § 33-22-128, MCA, only requires coverage for children age 18 and younger. At the time of publication of this memorandum, HB 607 had not yet been enacted and signed into law. Insurers are responsible for following legislative developments to determine if additional defrayal will be required under HB 607. Additional guidance on the submission of claims to CSI for defrayal is provided below. 5) Standardized Plan Options. The 2026 Final Rule provides that CMS will follow the approach finalized in the 2025 Final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (2025 Final Rule) concerning standardized plan option metal levels and to otherwise maintain continuity with the approach to standardized plan options finalized in the 2023 and 2024 Final Rules. With the 2026 Final Rule, CMS finalized only minor updates to the plan designs for PY2026. These updates pertain to ensuring these plans have actuarial values within the permissible de minimis range for each metal level and that issuers offering multiple standardized plan options “within the same product network type, metal level, and service area” are differentiating between these plans in a “meaningful” manner. This “meaningful” standard is met by a standardized plan option having a different product ID, provider network ID, drug list ID, or combination of some or all such factors. 6) Non-Standardized Plan Options. CMS’s approach to non-standardized plan option limits for PY2026 is largely consistent with previous plan years. QHP issuers in FFEs like Montana are limited to offering two non-standardized plan options per: product network type; metal level; inclusion of adult dental, pediatric dental, and adult vision coverage; and service area. CMS has clarified that issuers have the flexibility to vary the inclusion of these dental and vision benefits within these limits. CMS also finalized an amendment to non-standardized plan option limit exceptions at 45 CFR § 156.202(d). The exceptions process allows issuers to offer additional nonstandardized plans if they can demonstrate that these plans have at least 25% lower costsharing for benefits related to chronic and high-cost conditions compared to their other non-standardized plans in the same category. This approach aims to balance the goals of simplifying plan selection for consumers while maintaining access to plans that may benefit specific groups, such as those with chronic conditions. The relevant regulations (45 CFR § 156.202) have been amended to reflect these clarifications and flexibilities. 7) Medical Loss Ratios (MLR) Reporting and Rebate Calculations. Changes to MLR regulations focusing on “qualifying issuers” have been finalized. Key amendments include adding a definition for “qualifying issuer” to 45 CFR § 158.103, modifying § 158.140(b)(4)(ii) to allow such issuers the option to exclude risk adjustment program payments from MLR calculations, and updating rebate calculation examples in 45 CFR April 14, 2025 Page 4 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov § 158.240. CMS does not anticipate that additional reporting burdens will arise from these changes, as it believes issuers will continue to report the same risk adjustment transfer amounts, although it will be on different lines of the MLR Annual Reporting Form. 8) Premium Payment Thresholds. CMS is finalizing new premium payment thresholds to help consumers maintain their health insurance coverage. These thresholds prevent triggering a grace period, which could lead to coverage loss. Issuers can set a fixed-dollar threshold of $10 or less (adjusted for inflation), allowing consumers who owe $10 or less after applying their advance premium tax credit to avoid a grace period. Alternatively, issuers can choose between two percentage-based thresholds: a net premium threshold requiring payment of at least 95% of the premium after tax credits, or a gross premium threshold requiring payment of at least 98% of the total premium. 9) Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) Loading. The 2026 Final Rule amends 45 CFR § 156.80(d)(2)(i) to formally allow insurers to include CSR costs when setting premium rates, especially for silver-level QHPs. This amendment codifies the “silver loading” practice. The amendments specify that these premium adjustments are permissible federally when seen as reasonable, actuarially justified, permitted by state authorities, and when the insurer does not receive CSR reimbursement through other means. 10) Prescription Drugs. The 2026 Final Rule notes that there is no change from the 2025 Final Rule other than stating that CMS is continuing to conduct an “adverse tiering review” to assess whether submitted formularies associate higher cost sharing to all or a majority of drugs needed to treat certain medical conditions that include hepatitis C, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. 11) Network Adequacy. 45 CFR § 156.230 requires all marketplace plans, Small Business Health Options Programs (SHOPs), and Stand-Alone Dental Plans (SADPs) to use a network of providers that complies with CMS’s network adequacy and Essential Community Providers (ECPs) requirements and eliminates the exemption for plans that do not maintain a provider network. SADPs are excepted from this requirement for PY2026 because CMS has approved Montana as an area where it is prohibitively difficult to establish a network of dental providers. See 45 CFR § 156.230(a)(4). Time and distance standards remain unchanged from 2025, but CMS is enhancing its assessment methodology. To more accurately reflect real-world driving conditions, CMS is switching to geographic distance calculations instead of estimated driving distance and considering topographic factors like infrastructure and terrain. Appointment wait time standards and the secret shopper survey requirements for medical QHP issuers in FFEs remain consistent with 2025 policies. The network adequacy justification process also stays largely the same, with CMS reviewing updated provider data and justification forms submitted during the certification process. CMS acknowledges potential barriers like provider exclusivity contracts and supply shortages, and it encourages issuers to document these challenges in their justification forms. Lastly, CMS has made some provider type updates for 2026. Family medicine physicians can now count for both adult and pediatric primary care in all areas. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) can satisfy primary care April 14, 2025 Page 5 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov requirements in all areas, not just Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Additionally, APRNs specializing in behavioral health can now satisfy the outpatient clinical behavioral health provider category. 12) Essential Community Providers. PY2026’s standard for ECPs remains the same since PY2024. CMS has finalized its plan to conduct ECP reviews for FFE issuers, including FFE QHP issuers in Montana. CMS’s Marketplace Plan Management System (MPMS) now allows Montana FFE issuers to submit ECP data directly to CMS, rather than through System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) data transfers. 13) Employee Counting Method. As with prior years, the definition of a small employer group is 1-50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees. Federal counting methods set forth in 26 USC § 4980H(c)(2) apply. See 42 USC § 18024(b)(1), (2), as amended by the PACE Act, and 45 CFR § 155.20. Accordingly, the determination of whether an employer is considered a large or small employer for the purposes of QHP certification is conducted on an annual basis. Guaranteed renewability rights under the ACA do not allow a large group to continue its existing coverage if it has become a small group because such continued coverage is prohibited by other laws. The SHOP in Montana will offer both “horizontal choice” and “vertical choice” in 2026. 14) 2025 Marketplace Integrity Proposed Rule. CMS has proposed several changes to ACA Marketplace operations that will take effect for PY2026 filings. These include shortening the Open Enrollment Period to end on December 15, 2025, requiring stricter income verification processes for APTC eligibility, and excluding DACA recipients from subsidy eligibility. Carriers must also account for new policies allowing insurers to require payment of past-due premiums before effectuating coverage and removing coverage of gender-affirming care ("sex-trait modifications") from Essential Health Benefits. Additionally, CMS has strengthened oversight of agents and brokers by adopting a "preponderance of evidence" standard for terminations. Rates should be filed reflecting the regulations as they currently stand. If part or all of the CMS proposed changes are finalized, the CSI will accept modifications to the 2026 ACA filings. However, it should be noted that, based on our review of the CMS proposed rule, we do not anticipate any rate impacts, and we would require full documentation and justification for any proposed impacts. CSI expects issuers to be in compliance with whatever rules CMS eventually adopts. CMS’s proposed rule may be found here: • https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/19/2025-04083/patientprotection-and-affordable-care-act-marketplace-integrity-and-affordability GUIDANCE IN THE CCIIO/CMS 2025 LETTER TO ISSUERS All health issuers should carefully review the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO)/CMS 2026 Final Letter to Issuers in the FFE that is posted on the CMS website here: • https://www.cms.gov/files/document/final-2026-letter-issuers.pdf April 14, 2025 Page 6 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov DEFRAYAL OF STATE MANDATES Per 45 CFR § 155.170 of the ACA, the state of Montana is required to pay the costs of certain state benefit mandates enacted after December 31, 2011. The defrayal requirement applies to issuers selling QHPs in the individual and/or small group markets, on-exchange and off-exchange. Currently in Montana, mandatory benefits that are subject to defrayal include those covered under § 33-22-128, MCA, which requires coverage for children aged 18 and younger with hearing loss. As noted above, if HB 607 becomes law, insurers will be required to cover hearing loss for persons of any age. For defrayal under § 33-22-128, MCA, issuers are required to submit relevant claims of costs incurred and paid in 2024 to CSI for review. Because the 2025 Final Rule provides that state-mandated benefits are not considered “in addition to EHB” if the mandated benefit is an EHB in the State’s EHB-benchmark plan (see “Items of Note” #4, above), costs related to cochlear implants will no longer need to be defrayed because they are a benefit included in Montana’s EHB- benchmark plan. Other mandatory benefits that are subject to defrayal include those covered under § 33-22-2103, MCA, which requires coverage of standard fertility preservation services when an insured member is diagnosed with cancer and the standard of care involves medical treatment that may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility (defined in statute). Accordingly, issuers will be required to submit relevant claims of costs incurred and paid in 2024 to CSI for review. CSI is currently reviewing defrayal data and will directly contact carriers with detailed instructions on submitting defrayal cost information. For PY2026, rate filings will need to reflect estimated defrayal costs as was done for PY2025. The Actuarial Memorandum should state the amount the issuer anticipates the state will defray, and issuers should follow the URR instructions on how to document benefits in addition to EHB. This applies to issuers in both the individual and small group markets. FORM FILINGS All major-medical health issuers that wish to issue or renew small employer group, individual health insurance coverage, or SADPs must file with CSI their network information, forms, and binders – including all required documents for policies, certificates, or membership contracts and their plan binders containing all required templates for coverage that will be issued on or after January 1, 2026, no later than 5:00 PM MDT on May 14, 2025. The opportunity for all required filing submissions will open as soon as SERFF allows Binder submissions. Late filings will not be accepted. If a policy form to be used in 2026 has no changes from the approved form for 2025, the issuer may file an attestation certifying that there are no changes in the form. However, any changes to cost-sharing will require a new filing for the Summary of Benefits (SBC), Outline of Coverage (OOC), and Schedule of Benefits (SOB) documents. Note: New templates must be filed every year, even if there are no changes in the policy language. For all major medical disability form filings, an insurer must submit a checklist, completed in its entirety. The failure to submit a completed checklist will result in a delay in the review of the submission and may result in the rejection of the filing. In addition, all filers must submit CSI’s Flesch Readability Certification and CSI’s Certification of Compliance form. For the checklists, please see: April 14, 2025 Page 7 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov • https://csimt.gov/insurance/forms/ For Redline Form Revisions, if the Issuer files previously approved forms with new revisions, all revisions must be illustrated in a redlined version submitted under supporting documentation in the SERFF filing. All SBCs and OOCs must be filed at the same time as the policy forms. See CSI’s bulletin on SBC’s and OOC’s, entitled “Federal and State Consumer Disclosures,” dated July 6, 2012: • https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2012-07-06-Federal-and-State- Consumer-Disclosures.pdf All required corrections to forms and templates must be made by the issuer on a continuous basis. CSI will not use “correction windows.” CCIIO will send all corrections to the issuer and CSI. Please do not make corrections without first receiving approval from CSI. Corrections to all rate, network information, form, and binder filings must be finalized by 5:00 PM MDT on July 30, 2025. No exceptions will be permitted. Presumptively Discriminatory Benefit Designs The 2023 Final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (2023 Final Rule) provided that, under 45 CFR § 156.125(a), an issuer does not provide EHB if its benefit design, or the implementation of its benefit design, discriminates based on an individual’s age, expected length of life, present or predicted disability, degree of medical dependency, quality of life, or other health conditions; and that a nondiscriminatory benefit design that provides EHB is one that is clinically based. This is referred to in the 2023 Final Rule as the “refined EHB nondiscrimination policy.” According to the 2023 Final Rule, the policy became applicable starting on the earlier of January 1, 2023, or upon renewal of any plan subject to the EHB requirements. Regarding State-mandated benefits, the 2023 Final Rule clarified that a benefit required by a State enacted on or after January 1, 2012, is generally not considered an EHB pursuant to 45 CFR § 155.170. Consequently, a State-required benefit enacted on or before December 31, 2011, is considered an EHB pursuant to 45 CFR § 155.170, and issuers covering that benefit would therefore be required to comply with the nondiscrimination standards when including that benefit in their plan designs. According to the 2023 Final Rule, a plan that covers diagnoses and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as an EHB but limits such coverage in its plan benefit design based on age is presumptively discriminatory under 45 CFR § 156.125 unless the limitation is clinically based. Montana’s requirement that issuers cover diagnosis and treatment of ASD for a covered child 18 years of age or younger was enacted in 2009. (See §§ 33-22-515 and 33-22-703, MCA.) In turn, Montana’s EHB-benchmark plan includes an ASD benefit, but limits coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to members under age 19. Coverage of diagnosis and treatment of ASD is an EHB because it is a benefit required by the State enacted before December 31, 2011. Because coverage of this EHB is limited on the basis of age (i.e., ABA therapy is only covered for members under age 19), this EHB-benchmark benefit design qualifies as presumptively discriminatory under the finalized examples set forth in the 2023 Final Rule, unless the limitation is clinically based. April 14, 2025 Page 8 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov In accordance with CMS guidance that it will not consider State EHB-benchmark plan designs to be out of compliance with 45 CFR § 156.110(d) or § 156.111(b)(2)(v) if the State provides guidance or otherwise directs issuers to comply with the refined nondiscrimination standards, CSI instructs issuers that any plans providing benefits that are substantially equal to the EHB-benchmark provision on ASD must not replicate that benefit design by limiting ABA therapy to children under 19, unless they show such a limitation is clinically based. CSI directs issuers to comply with CMS’s refined EHB nondiscrimination policy, notwithstanding the current EHB benchmark plan provision related to ASD. Prescription Drug Coverage QHP issuers must comply with the EHB Crosswalk in setting formulary design. The effective Crosswalk was updated in 2023, to contain 8359 Clinical Drug Components (RXCUIs), representing 1,531 chemically distinct drugs, 47 categories and 156 classes for a combination of 169 unique category/class combinations. An issuer’s formulary drug list must be displayed on the issuer’s website and updated regularly as required by state and federal laws. Formulary lists will be reviewed to ensure assignment of drugs to tiers does not discriminate, as defined in Section 1557 of the ACA. Issuers may not require that prescriptions be obtained through a mail order pharmacy, as members must have access to retail pharmacy services. Issuers must provide for a drug formulary exception process that complies with the federal regulation (see 45 CFR § 156.122), including the issuance of a decision within 72 hours, or 24 hours if an expedited exception request is received. In addition, issuers must follow state law (see Title 33, Chapter 32, Montana Code Annotated) regarding internal and external appeals if the member requests an appeal of an adverse benefit determination on a drug claim. In order not to discriminate under 45 CFR § 156.125, the issuer’s EHB prescription drug benefit design must be clinically based. According to CMS, placing all drugs for a high-cost chronic condition on the highest formulary tier is a presumed discriminatory design, even when those drugs are costly. Issuers should expect to demonstrate that neutral principles were used when assigning tiers to such drugs and that those principles were consistently applied across types of drugs. Product Withdrawals If an issuer is discontinuing any products in the individual, small group or large group markets, the issuer must provide CSI with a list of withdrawn products and the number of members affected by that withdrawal. In addition, the issuer must specify how each of those plans will be “mapped” to a 2026 plan when “auto-renewal” occurs. CSI will not allow mapping to a lower metal tier without the express written permission of CSI. The mapping information submitted must include a detailed plan comparison between the old plan and the new plan. The detailed plan comparison must be included in the renewal notice to the insured. Healthcare Co-Ops, Student Health Plans, and Multi-State Plans While healthcare co-op plans are “deemed” certified by CMS, CSI will review co-op health plan forms in the same manner as all other health issuers’ plan forms are reviewed. All timelines and instructions contained in this Advisory Memorandum apply equally to healthcare co-ops. April 14, 2025 Page 9 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov Similarly, CSI will review multi-state plans (MSPs) under contract with the Office of Personnel Management according to the same instructions and timelines outlined in this Advisory Memorandum. MSP issuers are treated as separate issuers. Pursuant to federal law, student health plan forms and rates must be filed and reviewed as individual health insurance products. The only distinctions from the individual market allowed are those identified in federal regulations that apply specifically to student health plans. Student health plans must be filed and reviewed by CSI at least 60 days before they are offered for sale. The student health plan forms and rate filings do not need to follow the URR filing requirements; therefore, a binder filing is no longer required. The submission of forms and rates with supporting documentation are the only documents required to be submitted in SERFF. For more detailed instructions, please contact CSI. Stand-Alone Dental Plans Issuers offering SADPs must file their forms, plan binders, and network lists according to the same timelines and instructions that apply to all QHP issuers. Rates should be filed in conjunction with the form and binder filings. Montana’s Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network adequacy laws continue to apply to dental plans. Beginning in PY2024, 45 CFR § 156.230 requires all QHP issuers, including SADPs, to use a provider network that meets network adequacy standards except for pans in areas where it is “prohibitively difficult” to establish a network of dental providers. CMS has approved Montana as one of these “prohibitively difficult” areas for PY2026. The benefits template will be modified for dental plans. Each SADPs issuer must specify whether the rates contained in the templates are guaranteed to consumers or will be subject to underwriting. SADP forms, rates, and binders must be filed separately from QHP filings. Dental rates may use geographic rating factors that differ from those used for the medical rates, however, the geographic rating areas used must be the same as those identified for health plans. Dental binders/filings should include all SADPs sold on the exchange and off the exchange. Large Employer Group Insurance Large employer group insurance issuers must follow the instructions regarding network lists required to be filed annually as well as instructions regarding product withdrawal. Policy forms must be updated as needed to comply with state and federal regulations. Filing Fee A health service corporation is required to pay a filing fee pursuant to § 33-30-204, MCA. Please submit the filing fee for each binder. MEDICAL RATE FILINGS Rate filings will only be accepted from May 14 - June 6, 2025, and are due by 5:00 PM MDT June 6, 2025. Proposed rate increases will be published on or before CMS’ August 13th deadline. All issuers operating in the Individual and Small Group major medical markets must submit the federal Rate Data Template (RDT) (filed in the plan binder) and the URRT, even if issuers do not intend to sell on the FFE. April 14, 2025 Page 10 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov Expanded Eligibility Advanced Premium Tax Credits (eAPTCs)- Carriers shall project 2026 premiums assuming no Congressional extension of eAPTCs. If federal law changes prior to August 2026, revised rates may be submitted via SERFF's rate revision process, subject to expedited review. CSI will not accept rate filings with multiple contingency scenarios. All filings must be submitted through SERFF. SERFF has made updates to the URR transfer process. All URRT submissions should be completed within SERFF and not directly in the Health Insurance Oversight System (HIOS) URR module. All new filings need to be submitted using the new SERFF to URR Transfer Process. This is done by using the new URRT Tab in SERFF. If an issuer enters their rate submission incorrectly through HIOS instead of SERFF, CMS will deactivate that submission and notify the issuer and the state that it must be entered through the SERFF Transfer Process. A rate filing that contains the URRT and is separate from the form filing and the plan binder must be filed. Do not duplicate templates submitted in the plan binder (RDT) in the rate filing. Part I (Unified Rate Review Template), Part II (consumer justification narrative) and Part III (actuarial memorandum) of the Rate Filing Justification and all supporting documentation for the rates should be submitted in a separate SERFF rate filing. These files are not part of the plan binder. There is no required format for Part II. However, for consistency, the document should adhere to the URR instructions including all sections in the order listed (scope and range of the rate increase, financial experience of the product, changes in medical service costs, changes in benefits, and administrative costs and anticipated margins). If there are additional material components of the rate change that do not fit into any of the above sections, please add sections at the end to address them. Part II will be posted in PDF in HIOS if any renewing plan within a product has a rate increase of 15% or more. Although there are no specific CSI instructions for Part II, the CSI requires that the Part II discuss not only the HIOS-required change derived by the URRT, but also the actuary’s best estimate of the impact of the rate change on the current insured members as reported in SERFF (note – Part III’s discussion of rate impact should also address both perspectives). Part II should include a header containing the following identifying information: • Title – Part II Justification for Proposed Rate Increase; • Issuers name; • Market segment (individual or small group); and • Rate effective date. Reinsurance Program Rate Requirement: Montana received an extension of its Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver allowing the state to implement a reinsurance program (Program) in the individual market for an additional five years from Plan Years 2025-2029. For all years that the Program is in place, in support of rates filed in the Montana individual Affordable Care Act (ACA) market and for federal pass-through funding calculation purposes: • Issuers must include in their filing a report detailing premium amounts with and without taking the reinsurance program into consideration. April 14, 2025 Page 11 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov • Issuers must submit the “without reinsurance” RDT under a user-created Rate/Rule Schedule Item in the rate filing (the “with reinsurance” RDT will continue to be submitted under the binder filing as required by CMS). • A separate “without reinsurance” URRT must be submitted under a user-created component on the Supporting Documents tab in the SERFF rate filing. The “with reinsurance” URRT must be submitted under the URRT tab in the SERFF rate filing. • Issuers must include in their filing detailed numeric support for the claim and rate impacts of the 1332 waiver program assumed in the development of their filed rates. Silver Loading Guidance Clarified: Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) plan designs are required by federal law, however, that additional cost is not required be paid with federal funds. If the unfunded cost is distributed to all plans, the CSI agrees the load is unfairly forced upon the insured members who are not eligible for the CSR plans through increased premiums for the non-CSR eligible plan designs. The Commissioner prioritizes consumer protection. Charging unfairly high rates on the non-CSR-eligible plan designs conflicts with the responsibility to ensure that rates are neither excessive nor unfairly discriminatory. As such, the Commissioner expects that issuers will develop rates for ACA plans that distribute the cost of CSRs only to CSR-eligible plans. Since CSR eligibility requires that a policy be exchange-sold, issuers may consider distributing the burden only to plans that are available on the exchange. Note, however, that all plans sold on the exchange must be sold off-exchange at the same premium rate. Additional instructions related to rate filings: • Geographic rating factor support must include documentation regarding how utilization was removed from the development of the proposed rating factors. • As with previous years, CSI will again be requesting that issuers provide their final RATEE file. CSI will notify issuers via email with further details. • Parts I, II, and III of the Rate Filing Justification for ALL individual and small employer group health plans must be completed and submitted in SERFF. • All filings need to be submitted using the new SERFF to URR Transfer Process. This is done by using the new URRT Tab in SERFF. • The Company Rate Information and the Rate Review Detail on the Rate/Rule Schedule tab in SERFF must be completed for all filings. The values for rate impact generally should agree with those reported in the URR Parts II and III. Although no determination method of the rate impact is mandated, CSI requires that support be provided in the rate filing. Please submit this support in SERFF separately from the URR components. • The URRT, Part II Consumer Justification, and Part III Actuarial Memorandum are required to be included in SERFF under the URRT tab in the rate filing. Please do not include them as attachments as notes to reviewers, under the Rate/Rule Schedule items tab or under the Supporting Documents tab. • Tobacco use rating is not allowed for anyone under the age of 21. This applies to policies sold both on and off of the exchange. • Individual Market health plan rates, both on and off the exchange, must be guaranteed for April 14, 2025 Page 12 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026. No interim rate revisions will be permitted. • Rates for the Small Group Market, both on the exchange and off the exchange, must be filed for the entire 2026 calendar year. The initial rates for 2026 may be submitted with quarterly trend factors for the entire year. Subsequent quarterly rate revisions will be accepted but as outlined in the URRT instructions, must be submitted at least 105 days prior to the effective date of the rate change and finalized at least 45 days prior to the effective date. • Small group rates are allowed to be composite billed in Montana. Issuers must indicate this for each plan on the Benefit Package tabs in the Plan and Benefit template. CMS has authorized CSI to require accurate responses on the Plan and Benefit template. An indication of which plans are subject to composite billing should also be included in Part III under the Effective Rate Review Information section. When quoting for dual options, the composite rates for each plan should be calculated using the entire census. • Rates entered into the RDT should have no more than 2 decimal places in order to avoid validation errors later in the review. • As in past years, the components of the AV Pricing Values, as described in 45 CFR § 156.80(d)(2), must be documented, and supported in the filing. No template will be provided for this information; it is recommended that these components be summarized in a table in Part III. • Based on the CMS instructions for Parts I and III, there are two distinct subcomponents to the AV and cost-sharing design component described in 45 CFR § 156.80(d)(2)(i) – cost-sharing design and utilization differences as a result of the design. Attention will be paid to the justification for the assumed utilization differences. • The Market-Wide Adjusted Index Rate (MAIR) must be fully supported in Part III and equal to that reported on the URRT. • Plan Adjusted Index Rate (PAIR) components need to be supported in Part III. Issuers must report Administrative Expenses, Taxes and Fees, and Profit and Risk Load and detailed support must be provided in Part III. Additionally, issuers are required to provide an explanation of how these modifiers are developed and applied to the MAIR to derive the PAIR. • CSI requires documentation of the MLR development, including support for each component (including plan-level variation), with the specific requirement of reconciliation of the MLR Exchange User Fees with that on the URRT. • As noted in the CMS Part III instructions, the actuary may qualify his or her opinion to state that Part I does not demonstrate the process used to develop the rates, but this does not negate the requirement that the assumptions used to develop the rates be accurately captured in Part I and thoroughly documented and supported in Part III. • If an issuer wishes to identify any part of the rate filing as confidential, it must first be identified as a “trade secret” under the standard set forth in Great Falls Tribune v. PSC, 2003 MT 359, ¶ 56. Do not mark the entire filing as a “trade secret.” Reasons for a trade secret determination must be specific for each item of information in the rate filing. Each item for which the issuer seeks confidentiality status must be clearly identified and April 14, 2025 Page 13 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov accompanied by an affidavit from an authorized company representative identifying specific reasons under Montana law that legally justifies the company’s claim for trade secret designation for that particular information. The Part II justification for a filed rate increase must be published pursuant to federal law and cannot be designated a trade secret. The Commissioner will review and make the ultimate determination as to trade secret status. After the rate review process is complete, all parts of the rate filing will be treated as public unless trade secret status has been granted by the Commissioner. Please contact CSI for more detailed instructions if you have questions. More information regarding the confidentiality process can be found in the Commissioner’s April 14, 2022 memorandum: o https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Requests-for-Trade-Secret- Protection-on-Rate-and-Form-Filings-Form_3-25.pdf • Rate justifications, as required by applicable federal regulations and contained in Part II of the URR, must be submitted with the initial rate filing and for all subsequent rate increases, no matter how large or small the increase. The Part II rate justification is the consumer-friendly explanation/justification for the rate. NETWORK ADEQUACY To assess compliance with state and federal network adequacy laws for PPO and “PPO-type” health plans offered in 2026, health, vision, and dental issuers (including non-QHP issuers), must provide CSI with a completed healthcare provider template for each health, vision, and dental plan offered for sale in Montana. If an issuer uses a different network for different health plans, all networks must be properly identified and submitted separately. Reviews of network adequacy for PY2026 remain on a dual track: one track through CMS for QHP certification for compliance with the federal QHP network adequacy requirements and one track through CSI for insurance policies or subscriber contracts for compliance with Montana network adequacy standards. Issuers seeking QHP certification for PY2026 must submit network information to CMS in accordance with the 2026 Final Rule and 2026 Final Letter to Issuers. All networks must be resubmitted each year by all health, dental, and vision issuers, even if there are no other changes to the policy form. Federal QHP Network Adequacy Standards CMS will review federal QHP network adequacy standards for Montana issuers seeking QHP certification for PY2026. CMS will not evaluate QHP network adequacy in FFE states performing plan management functions that elect to perform their own reviews of plans seeking QHP certification in their state, so long as the state applies and enforces quantitative network adequacy standards that are at least as stringent as the federal network adequacy standards established for QHPs. CSI has not elected to review the federal QHP network adequacy standards for PY2026. Accordingly, for PY2026, CMS will evaluate the federal network adequacy standards for Montana issuers seeking QHP certification. In all FFE states, like Montana, issuers will be required to submit their network adequacy data to CMS via the Essential Community Provider/Network Adequacy (ECP/NA) template. Historic CMS Instructions and FAQs provide more detail on the network adequacy April 14, 2025 Page 14 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov review process and what issuers need to submit to CMS to demonstrate compliance with network adequacy standards at the following links: • www.qhpcertification.cms.gov/s/Essential%20Community%20Providers%20and%20Ne twork%20Adequacy%20FAQs • www.qhpcertification.cms.gov/s/ECP%20and%20Network%20Adequacy For PY2026, with regard to appointment wait time standards, issuers will demonstrate compliance via attestation, as provided in the 2023 Final Rule. CMS established appointment wait time standards in Chapter 2, section 3.ii.b of the 2023 Final Letter to Issuers, and are currently reiterated in Chapter 2, section 3.ii.b of the 2025 Final Letter to Issuers. Reviews of time and distance standards will be conducted by CMS as part of QHP certification. The time and distance standards are established in Chapter 2, section 3.ii.a, of the 2023 Final Letter to Issuers. Regarding these standards, taxonomy codes that crosswalk into each individual provider and facility specialty type are listed in the Taxonomy Codes tab of the ECP/NA template so that issuers know which providers to include in the respective individual and facility specialty categories. As with PY2025, if an issuer’s application does not satisfy the network adequacy standard, an issuer is required to include a satisfactory justification as part of its application for QHP certification. The justification process remains unchanged for PY2026. If it is determined that an issuer does not meet one of the standards, the issuer can: (1) contract with more providers to come into alignment with the standards and re-submit an updated ECP/NA template; or (2) submit a completed Network Adequacy Justification Form to CMS. The justification process will require issuers that do not yet meet the network adequacy standards to detail: the reasons that one or more standards were not met; the mitigating measures the issuer is taking to ensure enrollee access to respective provider specialty types; information on enrollee complaints regarding network adequacy; the issuer’s efforts to recruit additional providers; and an attestation regarding the provider’s contribution to meeting the standards. All issuers seeking certification of plans to be offered as QHPs through the FFEs must submit information about whether network providers offer telehealth services. Issuers should not construe this proposal to mean that telehealth services could be counted in place of in-person service access for the purpose of network adequacy standards. Montana Network Adequacy Standards CSI will review networks for insurance policies or subscriber contracts for compliance with Montana network adequacy standards for PY2026. Although CSI has not elected to review the federal QHP network adequacy standards for PY2026, CSI maintains its plan management status with respect to all other areas of QHP certification. In addition, the federal QHP network adequacy standards do not preempt or replace Montana network adequacy standards or filing requirements set forth in Title 33, Montana Code Annotated. Issuers in Montana seeking QHP certification must comply with the federal network adequacy standards, in addition to the Montana network adequacy standards. CSI will review networks for insurance policies or subscriber contracts issued or delivered in Montana. The deadline to submit networks to CSI for review under the Montana adequacy April 14, 2025 Page 15 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov standards is May 14, 2025. CSI’s healthcare provider template requires reporting the following provider types: • Advanced practice registered nurses, • Chiropractors, • Dentists, • Licensed addiction counselors, • Licensed clinical professional counselors, • Licensed clinical social workers, • Licensed marriage and family therapists, • Naturopathic Physicians, • Optometrists, • Physical therapists, • Physician assistants, • Physicians, • Psychologists CSI uses a list of facilities to determine network adequacy for hospitals and other types of facilities. This list includes hospitals, critical access hospitals, residential treatment centers, surgical centers and chemical dependency treatment centers. CSI’s facilities template must be submitted for each network. Excel workbook templates, which include instructions detailing the required information and format for submitting the in-network healthcare providers, facilities and pharmacies, can be found on CSI’s website at https://csimt.gov/advisory-memos/ and in the State filing instructions on SERFF. Stand-alone dental and vision plans do not need to complete and submit a facility template to CSI at this time; only CSI’s healthcare provider template must be submitted. If an issuer requires use of “preferred pharmacies” or offers better pricing for prescription drugs obtained at a preferred pharmacy, CSI’s pharmacy template must be completed and submitted. Once finalized, the master list of healthcare providers used by CSI to review healthcare provider networks for 2026 will be available upon request. If a QHP issuer does not include all American Indian health care providers in its networks, it must submit proof, in the form of an attestation, that a provider contract was offered to and refused by the American Indian provider. The attestation must outline the issuer’s attempts to contract with April 14, 2025 Page 16 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) csi@mt.gov I (web) www.csimt.gov the American Indian providers. Rate, form, and template reviews cannot be completed until the adequacy of the network is determined and approved by CSI. Additionally, QHP issuers must also complete and submit the required CMS network and ECP templates. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ISSUERS & CONSUMER COMPLAINT HANDLING CSI will continue to provide technical assistance to issuers throughout the form approval/QHP certification recommendation process. All consumer complaints regarding issuers, including QHP issuers, will be handled by CSI. Consumer complaints regarding issuers received by the FFE through its toll-free phone number, the FFE website, or in any other manner, will be forwarded to CSI for resolution. CSI will track complaints concerning QHP issuers and forward them to the FFE when requested. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have questions, please contact the following: Forms and Binders: Karen Beyl (kbeyl@mt.gov ) Network Adequacy: Matthew Eberhardt (matthew.eberhardt@mt.gov) Rates: Ashley Perez (aperez@mt.gov) This advisory memorandum is informational only and does not enlarge, limit, or modify any requirements of applicable law or in any way limit the authority of CSI under applicable law. CSI encourages interested persons to consult with independent legal counsel for guidance on the application of law to any particular circumstances.