MAPD Help Desk

The MAPD Help Desk provides technical system support to CMS business partners for the implementation and operation of Medicare Parts C and D. This systems information is provided to assist external business partners with connectivity, testing and data exchange with CMS

Bulletin Board

• May 16, 2012 – MARx Read-only Mode Friday, May 18 – Saturday, May 19, 2012

Please be advised that due to scheduled cleanups, the MARx UI will be in read only mode from approximately 5:00 PM Friday, May 18, 2012 until 12:00 PM Saturday, May 19, 2012 ET. Updates to MARx, including batch file submissions and online transactions through the UI, will resume once the cleanups are completed.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at MAPDHelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• May 14, 2012 - Important Notice: Updated End-Stage-Renal-Disease Coverage Data Clean-up and Special Transaction Reply Report:  REVISED

The memo titled “End-Stage-Renal-Disease Coverage Data Clean-up and Special Transaction Reply Report" dated May 14, 2012, is available in the Downloads section below. It revises (and replaces) the May 11, 2012 version and provides updated information regarding a clean-up to correct the End-Stage-Renal Disease (ESRD) coverage dates that resulted in payment issues in 2011.  The original memo was updated via this revised memo to include the correct Adjustment Reason Code.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at MAPDHelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• May 8, 2012 – Updated Gentran Migration Schedule

Please be advised that the Gentran Migration Schedule has been updated; the revised schedule dated May 8, 2012  is available for review in the Downloads section below.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.   

• April 27, 2012 - Advanced Announcement of August 2012 Software Release

The memo entitled "Advanced Announcement of August 2012 Software Release" dated April 25, 2012, is available in the Downloads section below. It provides preliminary information regarding the 2012 August software release.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at MAPDHelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• April 18, 2012 – Important Notice: Gentran Migration

The purpose of this notification  is to inform all Gentran Users that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is transitioning from IBM Sterling Gentran to TIBCO MFT Internet Server. All Gentran Users must convert to the Internet Server by December 31, 2012.

OIS and the Enterprise File Transfer (EFT) team will work closely with individual Users/ Business Owners to fully test the Internet Server migration.

• The Production cutover will not occur without user approval/ satisfaction.
• Gentran will run in parallel with Internet Server throughout the entire migration schedule.

Internet Server Benefits:
- No file size limitation
- Built-in 256-bit encryption
- IP transmissions over the Internet

Changes/ Requirements with the use of the MFT Internet Server

Changes

- CMS will push files to the Trading Partners (when possible)
- No mailboxes
- CMS System ID
- Trading Partners will use an SFTP Client to transmit files to CMS

Requirements

- CMS System ID (180 Day Password)
- Secure File Transfer Protocol (sftp) with SSH key authentication

EDCG will host the next series of Webinars to be held 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT on the following dates:

• May 9, 2012, Meeting ID: 7577
• June 6, 2012, Meeting ID: 6373
• July 11, 2012, Meeting ID: 5114
• August 8, 2012, Meeting ID: 4747

To attend one of the Webinar sessions:

Go to: https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/gentranmigration/

• Audio (inside Central Office): Dial 6-3100; Meeting ID: (see corresponding date above)
• Audio (outside Central Office): Dial 1-877-267-1577; Meeting ID: (see corresponding date above)

If you encounter any problems accessing the webinar or have technical questions, please contact the CMS IT Service Desk at 410-786-2580, 1-800-562-1963 or CMS IT Service Desk via email for support.

Please review the requirements and documents in the Downloads section below.  Complete the necessary forms (SPOE Form and Partner Server Information document) and e-mail to CMS-EFT_Project@cms.hhs.gov at least five (5) business days prior to the start of the month that you are to be migrated.

A member of the Enterprise File Transfer team will contact you once they have received your completed forms to discuss your migration process.   If you have questions or concerns, please contact CMS-EFT_Project@cms.hhs.gov or EFT_TIBCO_ReDesign@cms.hhs.gov.

• April 3, 2012 – Revised Week-At-A-Glance Memorandum

Please see the memorandum in the Downloads section below from Cheri Rice, Director, Medicare Plan Payment Group, and Rosanne Hodge, Acting Director, Information Services Design and Development Group.  The memo is entitled “Week-At-A-Glance: REVISED,” and it revises the Week-At-A-Glance memorandum issued on March 27, 2012 to include the naming convention for the special Transaction Reply Report Plans should expect to receive on April 10th 2012.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• Plan Communications User Guide (version 6.1) Now Available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted a new version (version 6.1) of the Plan Communications User Guide (commonly referred to as the Guide) to the MAPD Help Desk Web site. Enhancements to the Guide reflect changes incorporated from the February 2012 Release. Please reference the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans Communications User Guide link for the updated Guides.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• Enrollment and Eligibility System Production Calendar for 2012 Now Available

The MAPD Production Schedule has been updated to reflect 2012 file transmissions. A text and color version of the calendar is available for Plans to review in the Downloads section below.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• Announcement of the February 2012 Software Release

Please review the memo entitled "Announcement of the February 2012 Software Release" from Cheri Rice and Alan Constantian dated December 16, 2011 in the Downloads section below for information regarding the 2012 February software release.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at MAPDHelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

• Year 2012 MARx Plan Monthly Schedule Now Available

The MARx Plan Monthly Schedule for 2012 has been updated to reflect Plan data due dates, report release dates, and enrollment certification due dates. Text and color versions of the 2012 MARx calendar are available for Plans to review in the Downloads section below.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.                                                                         

Planned Outages

• May 20, 2012 – Important Notice: Mainframe Outage

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 2:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Please be advised that there will be a Mainframe outage on Sunday, May 20, 2012, from 2:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) due to system maintenance.   The following will be unavailable to Plan users for the duration of the outage: Connect:Direct (for file transfer), Gentran (via Internet), MAPDOIS (IUI) and the MARX Common UI.

Please direct questions or concerns to the MAPD Help Desk at mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov or 1-800-927-8069.

Regularly Scheduled Maintenance

As a reminder, each Sunday night beginning at 6 pm (ET) through Monday morning at 6 am (ET), the Medicare Advantage and Part-D Inquiry System (Common UI) will be unavailable to Plan users for routine scheduled maintenance.

If there are any questions please contact the MAPD Help Desk at 1-800-927-8069.

MARx Common UI unavailable daily – approximately 11:00 PM through 12:30 AM EST due to maintenance.

IACS Weekly System Maintenance - Sunday 6 p.m. to Monday 6 a.m. EST.

GENTRAN (mailboxes) Weekly System Backup - Sunday 1 a.m. to approximately 3 a.m. EST.

Contacting the MAPD Help Desk

Phone: 1-800-927-8069
E-mail: mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.