CMS releases draft guidance for 2019 qualified health plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late yesterday released the 2019 draft letter that provides guidance to issuers of qualified health plans interested in selling health coverage through the health insurance marketplaces. The guidance contains key deadlines and incorporates policy changes proposed in CMS's 2019 draft notice of benefit and payment parameters. In the draft letter, CMS proposes that insurers submit initial filings by June 20, 2018 with contracts finalized by the end of September. CMS proposes for open enrollment to begin Nov. 1, 2018 for 2019 coverage. For more, see the CMS factsheet.