The traditional one-size-fits-all benefits strategy is facing a new era of complexity with 2018 finalized guidance and policies from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) enabling Medicare Advantage (MA) programs to expand the supplemental benefits1 afforded to beneficiaries. This reinterpretation of the statute to broaden the scope of the primarily health-related supplemental benefit standard to include items and services that address certain social determinants of health (SDoH) is an important step in supporting value-based care. It aligns commercial payers and states across the country to recognize the importance of addressing SDoH in achieving better health outcomes and lower costs. […] Continue Reading

Source: Employee Benefit Plan Review