The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says HealthCare.gov will give health plan provider network size ratings in a "limited number of states" in 2017.
In those states, HealthCare.gov plan menus will give network size categories for adult primary care providers, for pediatricians, and for hospitals, according to a new CMS bulletin.
"The consumer experience is a priority for CMS, and the goal of the network breadth pilot is to help CMS understand how consumers make use of the network breadth information," officials say.
CMS asked for the provider network information it will use to calculate the ratings in the 2017 exchange plan application template. CMS will tell issuers what network size categories their exchange plans fall into before the start of the 2017 open enrollment period, officials say.
The open enrollment period for 2017 is set to start Nov. 1 and end Jan. 31.
