(a) Basis. This subpart implements certain general provisions for the Radiation Oncology Model implemented under subpart B (RO Model) and the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Treatment Choices Model implemented under subpart C (ETC Model), collectively referred to in this subpart as Innovation Center models. Except as specifically noted in this part, the regulations do not affect the applicability of other provisions affecting providers and suppliers under Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS), including provisions regarding payment, coverage, or program integrity.

(b) Scope. The regulations in this subpart apply to model participants in the RO Model (except as otherwise noted in § 512.160(b)(6)) and to model participants in the ETC Model. This subpart sets forth the following:

(1) Basis and scope.

(2) Beneficiary protections.

(3) Model participant requirements for participation in model evaluation and monitoring, and record retention.

(4) Rights in data and intellectual property.

(5) Monitoring and compliance.

(6) Remedial action and termination by CMS.

(7) Limitations on review.

(8) Miscellaneous provisions on bankruptcy and notification.

For purposes of this part, the following terms are defined as follows unless otherwise stated:

Beneficiary means an individual who is enrolled in Medicare FFS.

Change in control means any of the following:

(1) The acquisition by any “person” (as this term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the model participant representing more than 50 percent of the model participant's outstanding voting securities or rights to acquire such securities.

(2) The acquisition of the model participant by any individual or entity.

(3) The sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the model participant.

(4) The approval and completion of a plan of liquidation of the model participant, or an agreement for the sale or liquidation of the model participant.

Covered services means the scope of health care benefits described in sections 1812 and 1832 of the Act for which payment is available under Part A or Part B of Title XVIII of the Act.

Days means calendar days.

Descriptive model materials and activities means general audience materials such as brochures, advertisements, outreach events, letters to beneficiaries, web pages, mailings, social media, or other materials or activities distributed or conducted by or on behalf of the model participant or its downstream participants when used to educate, notify, or contact beneficiaries regarding the Innovation Center model. The following communications are not descriptive model materials and activities: Communications that do not directly or indirectly reference the Innovation Center model (for example, information about care coordination generally); information on specific medical conditions; referrals for health care items and services; and any other materials that are excepted from the definition of “marketing” as that term is defined at 45 CFR 164.501.

Downstream participant means an individual or entity that has entered into a written arrangement with a model participant under which the downstream participant engages in one or more Innovation Center model activities.

Innovation Center model means the RO Model implemented under subpart B or the ETC Model implemented under subpart C.

Innovation Center model activities means any activities impacting the care of model beneficiaries related to the test of the Innovation Center model under the terms of this part.

Medically necessary means reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury, or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.

Model beneficiary means a beneficiary attributed to a model participant or otherwise included in an Innovation Center model under the terms of this part.

Model participant means an individual or entity that is identified as a participant in the Innovation Center model under the terms of this part.

Model-specific payment means a payment made by CMS only to model participants, or a payment adjustment made only to payments made to model participants, under the terms of the Innovation Center model that is not applicable to any other providers or suppliers.

Provider means a “provider of services” as defined under section 1861(u) of the Act and codified in the definition of “provider” at § 400.202 of this chapter.

Supplier means a supplier as defined in section 1861(d) of the Act and codified at § 400.202 of this chapter.

U.S. Territories means American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(a) Beneficiary freedom of choice. (1) The model participant and its downstream model participants must not restrict beneficiaries' ability to choose to receive care from any provider or supplier.

(2) The model participant and its downstream model participants must not commit any act or omission, nor adopt any policy that inhibits beneficiaries from exercising their freedom to choose to receive care from any provider or supplier or from any health care provider who has opted out of Medicare. The model participant and its downstream model participants may communicate to model beneficiaries the benefits of receiving care with the model participant, if otherwise consistent with the requirements of this part and applicable law.

(b) Availability of services. (1) The model participant and its downstream participants must continue to make medically necessary covered services available to beneficiaries to the extent required by applicable law. Model beneficiaries and their assignees retain their rights to appeal claims in accordance with part 405, subpart I of this chapter.

(2) The model participant and its downstream participants must not take any action to select or avoid treating certain Medicare beneficiaries based on their income levels or based on factors that would render the beneficiary an “at-risk beneficiary” as defined at § 425.20 of this chapter.

(3) The model participant and its downstream participants must not take any action to selectively target or engage beneficiaries who are relatively healthy or otherwise expected to improve the model participant's or downstream participant's financial or quality performance, a practice commonly referred to as “cherry-picking.”

(c) Descriptive model materials and activities. (1) The model participant and its downstream participants must not use or distribute descriptive model materials and activities that are materially inaccurate or misleading.

(2) The model participant and its downstream participants must include the following statement on all descriptive model materials and activities: “The statements contained in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The authors assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this document.”

(3) The model participant and its downstream participants must retain copies of all written and electronic descriptive model materials and activities and appropriate records for all other descriptive model materials and activities in a manner consistent with § 512.135(c).

(4) CMS reserves the right to review, or have a designee review, descriptive model materials and activities to determine whether or not the content is materially inaccurate or misleading. This review takes place at a time and in a manner specified by CMS once the descriptive model materials and activities are in use by the model participant.

The model participant and its downstream participants must comply with the requirements of § 403.1110(b) of this chapter and must otherwise cooperate with CMS' model evaluation and monitoring activities as may be necessary to enable CMS to evaluate the Innovation Center model in accordance with section 1115A(b)(4) of the Act and to conduct monitoring activities under § 512.150, including producing such data as may be required by CMS to evaluate or monitor the Innovation Center model, which may include protected health information as defined in 45 CFR 160.103 and other individually-identifiable data.

(a) Right to audit. The Federal government, including CMS, HHS, and the Comptroller General, or their designees, has the right to audit, inspect, investigate, and evaluate any documents and other evidence regarding implementation of an Innovation Center model.

(b) Access to records. The model participant and its downstream participants must maintain and give the Federal government, including CMS, HHS, and the Comptroller General, or their designees, access to all such documents and other evidence sufficient to enable the audit, evaluation, inspection, or investigation of the implementation of the Innovation Center model, including without limitation, documents and other evidence regarding all of the following:

(1) The model participant's and its downstream participants' compliance with the terms of the Innovation Center model, including this subpart.

(2) The accuracy of model-specific payments made under the Innovation Center model.

(3) The model participant's payment of amounts owed to CMS under the Innovation Center model.

(4) Quality measure information and the quality of services performed under the terms of the Innovation Center model, including this subpart.

(5) Utilization of items and services furnished under the Innovation Center model.

(6) The ability of the model participant to bear the risk of potential losses and to repay any losses to CMS, as applicable.

(7) Patient safety.

(8) Other program integrity issues.

(c) Record retention. (1) The model participant and its downstream participants must maintain the documents and other evidence described in paragraph (b) of this section and other evidence for a period of six years from the last payment determination for the model participant under the Innovation Center model or from the date of completion of any audit, evaluation, inspection, or investigation, whichever is later, unless—

(i) CMS determines there is a special need to retain a particular record or group of records for a longer period and notifies the model participant at least 30 days before the normal disposition date; or

(ii) There has been a termination, dispute, or allegation of fraud or similar fault against the model participant or its downstream participants, in which case the records must be maintained for an additional 6 years from the date of any resulting final resolution of the termination, dispute, or allegation of fraud or similar fault.

(2) If CMS notifies the model participant of the special need to retain records in accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section or there has been a termination, dispute, or allegation of fraud or similar fault against the model participant or its downstream participants described in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, the model participant must notify its downstream participants of this need to retain records for the additional period specified by CMS.

(a) CMS may—

(1) Use any data obtained under §§ 512.130, 512.135, and 512.150 to evaluate and monitor the Innovation Center model; and

(2) Disseminate quantitative and qualitative results and successful care management techniques, including factors associated with performance, to other providers and suppliers and to the public. Data disseminated may include patient—

(i) De-identified results of patient experience of care and quality of life surveys, and

(ii) De-identified measure results calculated based upon claims, medical records, and other data sources.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, for all data that CMS confirms to be proprietary trade secret information and technology of the model participant or its downstream participants, CMS or its designee(s) will not release this data without the express written consent of the model participant or its downstream participant, unless such release is required by law.

(c) If the model participant or its downstream participant wishes to protect any proprietary or confidential information that it submits to CMS or its designee, the model participant or its downstream participant must label or otherwise identify the information as proprietary or confidential. Such assertions are subject to review and confirmation by CMS prior to CMS' acting upon such assertions.

(a) Compliance with laws. The model participant and each of its downstream participants must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

(b) CMS monitoring and compliance activities. (1) CMS may conduct monitoring activities to ensure compliance by the model participant and each of its downstream participants with the terms of the Innovation Center model including this subpart; to understand model participants' use of model-specific payments; and to promote the safety of beneficiaries and the integrity of the Innovation Center model. Such monitoring activities may include, without limitation, all of the following:

(i) Documentation requests sent to the model participant and its downstream participants, including surveys and questionnaires.

(ii) Audits of claims data, quality measures, medical records, and other data from the model participant and its downstream participants.

(iii) Interviews with members of the staff and leadership of the model participant and its downstream participants.

(iv) Interviews with beneficiaries and their caregivers.

(v) Site visits to the model participant and its downstream participants, performed in a manner consistent with paragraph (c) of this section.

(vi) Monitoring quality outcomes and clinical data, if applicable.

(vii) Tracking patient complaints and appeals.

(2) In conducting monitoring and oversight activities, CMS or its designees may use any relevant data or information including without limitation all Medicare claims submitted for items or services furnished to model beneficiaries.

(c) Site visits. (1) In a manner consistent with § 512.130, the model participant and its downstream participants must cooperate in periodic site visits performed by CMS or its designees in order to facilitate the evaluation of the Innovation Center model and the monitoring of the model participant's compliance with the terms of the Innovation Center model, including this subpart.

(2) CMS or its designee provides, to the extent practicable, the model participant or downstream participant with no less than 15 days advance notice of any site visit. CMS—

(i) Will attempt, to the extent practicable, to accommodate a request for particular dates in scheduling site visits.

(ii) Will not accept a date request from a model participant or downstream participant that is more than 60 days after the date of the CMS initial site visit notice.

(3) The model participant and its downstream participants must ensure that personnel with the appropriate responsibilities and knowledge associated with the purpose of the site visit are available during all site visits.

(4) Additionally, CMS may perform unannounced site visits at the office of the model participant and any of its downstream participants at any time to investigate concerns about the health or safety of beneficiaries or other patients or other program integrity issues.

(5) Nothing in this part shall be construed to limit or otherwise prevent CMS from performing site visits permitted or required by applicable law.

(d) Reopening of payment determinations. (1) CMS may reopen a model-specific payment determination on its own motion or at the request of a model participant, within 4 years from the date of the determination, for good cause (as defined at § 405.986 of this chapter).

(2) CMS may reopen a model-specific payment determination at any time if there exists reliable evidence (as defined in § 405.902 of this chapter) that the determination was procured by fraud or similar fault (as defined in § 405.902 of this chapter).

(3) CMS's decision regarding whether to reopen a model-specific payment determination is binding and not subject to appeal.

(e) OIG authority. Nothing contained in the terms of the Innovation Center Model or this part limits or restricts the authority of the HHS Office of Inspector General or any other Federal government authority, including its authority to audit, evaluate, investigate, or inspect the model participant or its downstream participants for violations of any Federal statutes, rules, or regulations.

(a) Grounds for remedial action. CMS may take one or more remedial actions described in paragraph (b) of this section if CMS determines that the model participant or a downstream participant:

(1) Has failed to comply with any of the terms of the Innovation Center Model, including this subpart.

(2) Has failed to comply with any applicable Medicare program requirement, rule, or regulation.

(3) Has taken any action that threatens the health or safety of a beneficiary or other patient.

(4) Has submitted false data or made false representations, warranties, or certifications in connection with any aspect of the Innovation Center model.

(5) Has undergone a change in control that presents a program integrity risk.

(6) Is subject to any sanctions of an accrediting organization or a Federal, State, or local government agency.

(7) Is subject to investigation or action by HHS (including the HHS Office of Inspector General and CMS) or the Department of Justice due to an allegation of fraud or significant misconduct, including being subject to the filing of a complaint or filing of a criminal charge, being subject to an indictment, being named as a defendant in a False Claims Act qui tam matter in which the Federal government has intervened, or similar action.

(8) Has failed to demonstrate improved performance following any remedial action imposed under this section.

(9) For the ETC Model only, has misused or disclosed the beneficiary-identifiable data in a manner that violates any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements or that is otherwise non-compliant with the provisions of the applicable data sharing agreement.

(b) Remedial actions. If CMS determines that one or more grounds for remedial action described in paragraph (a) of this section has taken place, CMS may take one or more of the following remedial actions:

(1) Notify the model participant and, if appropriate, require the model participant to notify its downstream participants of the violation.

(2) Require the model participant to provide additional information to CMS or its designees.

(3) Subject the model participant to additional monitoring, auditing, or both.

(4) Prohibit the model participant from distributing model-specific payments, as applicable.

(5) Require the model participant to terminate, immediately or by a deadline specified by CMS, its agreement with a downstream participant with respect to the Innovation Center model.

(6) In the ETC Model only:

(i) Terminate the ETC Participant from the ETC Model.

(ii) Suspend or terminate the ability of the ETC Participant, pursuant to § 512.397(c), to reduce or waive the coinsurance for kidney disease patient education services.

(7) Require the model participant to submit a corrective action plan in a form and manner and by a deadline specified by CMS.

(8) Discontinue the provision of data sharing and reports to the model participant.

(9) Recoup model-specific payments.

(10) Reduce or eliminate a model-specific payment otherwise owed to the model participant.

(11) Such other action as may be permitted under the terms of this part.

(a) CMS may terminate an Innovation Center model for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) CMS determines that it no longer has the funds to support the Innovation Center model.

(2) CMS terminates the Innovation Center model in accordance with section 1115A(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

(b) If CMS terminates an Innovation Center model, CMS provides written notice to the model participant specifying the grounds for model termination and the effective date of such termination.

There is no administrative or judicial review under sections 1869 or 1878 of the Act or otherwise for all of the following:

(a) The selection of models for testing or expansion under section 1115A of the Act.

(b) The selection of organizations, sites, or participants, including model participants, to test the Innovation Center models selected, including a decision by CMS to remove a model participant or to require a model participant to remove a downstream participant from the Innovation Center model.

(c) The elements, parameters, scope, and duration of such Innovation Center models for testing or dissemination, including without limitation the following:

(1) The selection of quality performance standards for the Innovation Center model by CMS.

(2) The methodology used by CMS to assess the quality of care furnished by the model participant.

(3) The methodology used by CMS to attribute model beneficiaries to the model participant, if applicable.

(d) Determinations regarding budget neutrality under section 1115A(b)(3) of the Act.

(e) The termination or modification of the design and implementation of an Innovation Center model under section 1115A(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

(f) Determinations about expansion of the duration and scope of an Innovation Center model under section 1115A(c) of the Act, including the determination that an Innovation Center model is not expected to meet criteria described in paragraph (a) or (b) of such section.

(a) Notice of bankruptcy. If the model participant has filed a bankruptcy petition, whether voluntary or involuntary, the model participant must provide written notice of the bankruptcy to CMS and to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the district where the bankruptcy was filed, unless final payment has been made by either CMS or the model participant under the terms of each model tested under section 1115A of the Act in which the model participant is participating or has participated and all administrative or judicial review proceedings relating to any payments under such models have been fully and finally resolved. The notice of bankruptcy must be sent by certified mail no later than 5 days after the petition has been filed and must contain a copy of the filed bankruptcy petition (including its docket number), and a list of all models tested under section 1115A of the Act in which the model participant is participating or has participated. This list need not identify a model tested under section 1115A of the Act in which the model participant participated if final payment has been made under the terms of the model and all administrative or judicial review proceedings regarding model-specific payments between the model participant and CMS have been fully and finally resolved with respect to that model. The notice to CMS must be addressed to the CMS Office of Financial Management at 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop C3-01-24, Baltimore, MD 21244 or such other address as may be specified on the CMS website for purposes of receiving such notices.

(b) Notice of legal name change. A model participant must furnish written notice to CMS at least 30 days after any change in its legal name becomes effective. The notice of legal name change must be in a form and manner specified by CMS and must include a copy of the legal document effecting the name change, which must be authenticated by the appropriate State official.

(c) Notice of change in control. (1) A model participant must furnish written notice to CMS in a form and manner specified by CMS at least 90 days before any change in control becomes effective.

(2)(i) If CMS determines, in accordance with § 512.160(a)(5), that a model participant's change in control would present a program integrity risk, CMS may take remedial action against the model participant under § 512.160(b).

(ii) CMS may also require immediate reconciliation and payment of all monies owed to CMS by a model participant that is subject to a change in control.