Plans See Practical Challenges In Finalized MCO Rule, Beneficiary Advocates Celebrate Win

Medicaid beneficiary advocates and health plans are on opposite sides when it comes to the new requirements for managed care plans CMS finalized earlier this week -- while advocates call the rule’s timeliness and provider directory standards a win for beneficiaries, plans say the agency will have to work with them to address practical issues with implementation and have voiced concerns over using secret shoppers to check compliance. CMS released the final managed care organization (MCO) rule Monday (April 22)...