Relevant to: All Medicare Advantage Organizations and Medicare-Medicaid Plans
On April 5, 2023, CMS issued the “Medicare Program; Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly” final rule which included requirements and clarifications relating to Medicare Advantage (MA) coverage criteria for basic benefits, use of prior authorization, and the annual review of utilization management tools. The new regulatory provisions are applicable to coverage beginning January 1, 2024. Since the issuance of this rule, CMS has received questions about the application of these rules once they are effective. In this memo, we provide clarification about how we expect MA plans to comply with these new rules.