Q As7671104205.docx

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SOLICITATION #7671104205

Q1. Can you clarify the balance between analytic and programming activities for this effort?

A1. Primarily programming activities that require a detailed knowledge of the payment methodologies

Q2. Can you clarify where the Contractor will install the rate-setting architecture?

A2. The current payment rates are calculated using a combination of CMS mainframe SAS, PC SAS, Excel and Access.

Q3. Will the previous contractor and/or CMS send the new contractor existing code for determining the rate-setting methodology?

A3. Depending on the nature of each specific programming and analysis task, CMS may provide existing code.

Q4. What is encompassed by the statement “explanations of the CMS internal programs and processes related to calculating payment rates”? Does this simply involve informal explanations to CMS staff regarding payment rates? If so, for how many people would these explanations have to be made? Alternatively, would the explanations be in the form of reports? Please clarify.

A4. These could be both in the form of informal explanations to up to 15 staff or it could be in the form of written reports if requested by CMS.

Q5. How many people would need to be trained as part of Task 2? How many training sessions would be required? Would this involve formal or informal training?

A5. Training could consist of up to 15 people per training session. These would be both formal (e.g. classroom) and informal (e.g. phone/email consultation) training.

Q6. Can you describe which specific types of stakeholders the contractor should be expected to interact with to obtain required information?

A6. Potentially, provider and specialty groups, and other government agencies.

Q7. Can you describe in more detail what type of “other analyses required to ensure the success of cross component research on geographic adjustments” (II.4.f) should be expected in this task order?

A7. This primarily refers to potentially assisting with the creation of analytical files to support modeling changes to the wage index or geographic practice cost index.

Q8. Can you provide calendar dates for the schedule of deliverables?

A8. The deliverable are throughout the year as tasks are requested by CMS.

Q9. Is there an incumbent for this contract? If so, who is the incumbent, and how long have they been the incumbent?

A9. Yes. The incumbent is Leo Porter. He has been the incumbent for the last 3 years.

Q10. Can you provide an estimated level of effort for this contract?

A10. Approximately 1000 hours

Q11. Please clarify which sections of the following sections are included in the ten-page limit for the proposal: technical approach, experience/key personnel, past performance, budgeted hours and labor rates.

A11. All

Q12. Are CVs required? If so, are they counted in the ten-page limit?

A12. Not required.

Q13. Please clarify that the rate setting methodology will not change from the current methodology and that the IT infrastructure that was used in the past (since 2008 for ASC and Home Health and since before that for the PSF and Hospice) to derive the rates will not be used and will be redesigned from scratch.

A13. The rate-setting methodology may change, but would build on the existing methodology.

Q14. Will access to existing development and test environments and/or access to the old rate setting infrastructures be provided?

A14. Yes

Q15. What technologies have been used in the past for ASC, PFS, HH and Hospice rate setting A15. Primarily, mainframe and PC SAS, Excel, and Access.

Q16. Will any data mining tools, database systems, other software, hardware (including e.g. operating systems, SPSS, SQL Server/Oracle/DB2, etc.) be made available by CMS or do they need to be provided by the contractor. In the former case, is the contractor constrained to work with what software/hardware CMS provides or are they free to procure or suggest the acquisition of a different architecture?

A16. The contractor would be provided with CMS mainframe access. The contractor is responsible for any other data mining tools, database systems, other software, hardware (including e.g. operating systems, SPSS, SQL Server/Oracle/DB2, etc.).

Q17. Verbal progress reports are noted as a deliverable. Are written progress reports required, as well?

A17. Written progress reports may be requested by CMS.

Q18. What tools are typically used for documentation within CMS and in past executions of a task such as this, in particular?

A18. The SAS programs, logs, lists, and other written documentation have been used in the past.

Q19. Will test data be provided or must it be created?

A19. It would need to be created by the contractor from existing mainframe files.

Q20. Please explain exactly what “modeling the wage index adjustments” consists of and what the goal is.

A20. Please see the proposed and final regulations for the ASC, PFS, HH, and Hospice payment systems available on the CMS website.

Q21. Please clarify that calculating all the following will be required under these tasks:

1. PFS:

1. RVUs

2. GPCIs

2. ASC:

1. ASC payment rates

2. Wage indexes

3. Drug rates under ASC

3. Home Health

1. Federal rates

2. LUPA rates

3. Wage indexes

4. Hospice

1. Rates for the levels of care

2. Wage indexes

A21. Support for the calculation of the payment rates for the PFS, ASCs, HH, and Hospice payment systems will be required.