Essential Community Provider-Network Adequacy (ECP/NA) Data Collection to Support QHP Certification (CMS-10803)

In accordance with section 1311(c)(1)(C) of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers, including Stand-alone Dental Plan (SADP) issuers, are required to ensure access to a sufficient number and geographic distribution of essential community providers (ECPs), where available, that serve predominantly low-income, medically-underserved individuals. Under 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 156.235, the Secretary of HHS has established criteria for inclusion of a sufficient number and geographic distribution of ECPs, where available, in an issuer’s network to ensure reasonable and timely access to a broad range of such providers for low-income, medically underserved individuals in their service areas. To satisfy this ECP requirement, medical QHP and SADP issuers must submit an Essential Community Provider/Network Adequacy (ECP/NA) template as part of their QHP application, in which they must list the ECPs with whom they have contracted. In the Issuer Module, issuers will also have to attest to meeting each element of the ECP standard. In accordance with section 1311(c)(1)(B) of the ACA, QHP issuers, including SADP issuers, are required to ensure a sufficient choice of providers (in a manner consistent with the applicable provisions under section 2702(c) of the Public Health Service Act). Under CFR 156.230, QHPs that use a provider network must ensure that the network is sufficient in number and types of providers, including providers that specialize in mental health and substance use disorder services, to assure that all services will be accessible without unreasonable delay. This information collection request (ICR) serves as a formal request for a new clearance associated with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023 Proposed Rule (2023 Payment Notice). This ICR details the burden associated with collecting and reviewing essential community provider and network adequacy data.

The latest form for Essential Community Provider-Network Adequacy (ECP/NA) Data Collection to Support QHP Certification (CMS-10803) expires 2027-12-31 and can be found here.

Essential Community Provider and Network Adequacy Data Requirements

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Health - Health Care Services

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