CMS’s new Managed Care Final Rule stipulates new requirements for enrollee handbooks effective July 1, 2017. DHCS issued a Dental All Plan Letter to provide clarification and guidance of these rules.
Current DHCS contracts require plan communications to be written at a sixth grade reading level. Under the new federal rule, dental managed care plans (DMCs) are to use the state-developed manual. Manuals must be provided within a reasonable time after receiving notice of enrollment, and the content of the manual must allow the member to understand how to effectively use the dental plan. The letter describes the content requirements.
DHCS Dental APL 17-002 (May 24, 2017)