Beginning February 24, 2023 CMS is requiring all EDE partners to require agents and brokers to integrate their FFM accounts. Agents who fail to do so will not be able to submit applications or upload documents to resolve data matching issues (DMI) via EDE.
This article will cover:
Actions agents and brokers must take to use HealthSherpa their account
To comply with CMS requirements, agents must integrate their HealthSherpa and CMS accounts by February 24, 2023. Agents can visit the "Settings" tab to walk through the authentication process. If your HealthSherpa and CMS accounts are not linked, you will see several alerts through out your account letting you know action is required:
Banner at the top of your Clients table
Popup window while viewing your dashboard
Red icon placed over the “Settings” button
Click into your Settings, and click the “Integrate My FFM Account” button.
This will launch the CMS Okta Identity Management portal in a new window. Log in using the same FFM username and password you use to login into your CMS account.
Once the account is integrated, you will see a success banner at the top of the screen as well as a green check mark noting you were successful.
🚨 Important! CMS requires you to integrate your accounts every 30 days
You will need to complete this authentication process every 30 days to remain in compliance with CMS requirements. To see your re-authentication date, review the FFM Account Integration settings in your Agent Dashboard. To extend your authentication, click "extend my integration now".
This will launch the CMS Okta Identity Management portal in a new window. Log in using the same FFM username and password you use to login into your CMS account just like before.
What this change means and how it impacts what you can do on HealthSherpa for Agents
This change means if you do not complete this authentication you will not be able to use Enhanced Direct Enrollment (EDE) through your HealthSherpa account beginning February 24. 2023. This will impact enrollments, DMI resolution, and several other features that help you manage your book of business throughout the year. If you do not authenticate your account, CMS will not allow you to:
submit, enroll, or finalize an EDE application
update personal information for an existing EDE application
cancel an effectuated policy for an existing EDE application
review and download a notice on an existing EDE application
submit a document for a followup on an existing EDE application
search and claim an EDE application
Impacts on other existing HealthSherpa features
The following situations and features will not be impacted by this change:
Multiple accounts: Agents can still have multiple accounts with the same FFM information, but each account will need to be authenticated. Reminder: Multiple accounts are allowed, but there cannot be multiple people logging into the same account or using multiple accounts with the same FFM ID simultaneously. See more details.
NPN overrides: This will not affect the NPN override feature some Agencies utilize through their HealthSherpa account.
Shared/Full book: No impact
Tips
Make sure you're using a valid FFM User ID and password: Forgot your FFM User ID or password? Use CMS' Forgot FFM User ID or Forgot/Reset Password and skip the phone call.
Make sure you’re typing everything correctly: Entering incorrect or mistyped CMS account username or password (e.g. forgetting to include dots (.) or characters) will cause your account authentication to fail.
Ensure you have completed FFM Plan Year training: if you haven’t completed this CMS required training, your account authentication will fail. You can check your status on the AB Registration Completion List
Ensure your NPN is not banned: You can check your status on the AB Suspension and Termination List
Check your status on the CMS portal: If you have one or more invalid statuses visible on your CMS portal, your account authentication will fail. You can check your status at Agent and Broker Marketplace Registration Status.
Still having issues?
Contact HealthSherpa Agent Support at 888.684.1373
Or call CMS' Marketplace Service Desk (MSD) via phone at 1-855-CMS-1515