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Machine-readable file (MRF)
Machine-readable file (MRF)
The machine-readable file must conform to a non-proprietary, open-standards format that is platform independent and made available to the public without restrictions.
The machine-readable files consist of an In-Network Rate (rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers) and an Allowed Amount (allowed amounts for, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers).
The MRF does not contain any benefit details or member personal health information.
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury envision third-party developers and other entities will download, process, and compile this data, creating more advanced price transparency tools. This data is not designed for member or consumer usage.
Machine-readable file FAQs
Self-funded plan sponsors are responsible for complying with the regulations. Aetna provided a unique URL (link) the plan sponsor could post on their website. The In-Network & Allowed Amount MRF will update monthly.
For fully insured and Small Group Aetna Funding Arrangement, no action is needed. Aetna will post the required data on Aetna.com.
Both MRFs contain the plan sponsor’s plan name, employer identification number (EIN), the reporting entity creating the MRF(s), billing codes, billing code description, CMS 2-digit place of service, provider’s tax identification (TIN), provider’s national provider identifier (NPI).
In-Network will contain the negotiated rates for covered items services, and the end date if applicable for the rate for all participating providers for the plan.
Allowed Amount will contain the allowed amounts for, and billed charges from the non-participating providers (out-of-network) to the relevant historical period (90 day of claim history) of the 20-claim threshold should be applied at the billing code level.
Internet-based price comparison tool
The internet-based price comparison tool allows an individual to receive an estimate of their cost-sharing responsibility for a specific item or service from a specific provider or providers for 500 covered items and services as of 1/1/23 and all covered items and services as of 1/1/24.
Consolidated Appropriations Act
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was established to protect consumers from unexpected costs related to health care billing by offering transparency about health care costs.
The No Surprises Act (NSA) provides protections from surprise medical bills for coverage of emergency services, coverage of non-emergency services performed by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, prohibits balance billing, establishes special rules for high deductible health plans, and applies external review requirements for surprise billing.
Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) is an arbitration process to resolve NSA-eligible payment disputes. It is required by the NSA and establishes an arbitration process by an external entity that will resolve eligible payment disputes between air ambulance, emergency services or non-emergency medical services provided by an out of network provider at a participating facility and health plans.
Aetna’s system is configured to apply Qualified Payment Amount (QPA) to NSA-eligible claims. Claims that apply the QPA have certain action codes to indicate payment. Those action codes are included in our logic to identify the appropriate claims to charge the NSA-eligible per claim fee.
In late February 2023, the IRS, DOL and HHS issued a joint announcement detailing how group health plans are to comply with the gag clause attestation requirements, or Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestations (GCPCA), established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
Employer-sponsored group health plans (both self-funded and fully insured) are prohibited from entering into agreements with a health care provider, network or association of providers, third-party administrator, or other service provider where the plan is restricted from accessing and sharing certain information. Employer-sponsored group health plans are also required to submit an annual attestation that the plan is in compliance with these requirements.
Based on recent market intelligence and feedback from our broker/consultant community, we have reassessed our approach for the Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestation (GCPCA):
- Aetna will submit the GCPCA on behalf of all fully-insured plan sponsors including small group and middle market AFA plan sponsors.
- As previously decided, Aetna will not submit the GCPCA template on behalf of our self-funded plan sponsors.
Plan sponsors must submit their attestation through the web form that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created.
To support your attestation, you can request a confirmation of compliance from Aetna by reaching out to your account manager. We have conducted a review of our provider and vendor contracts and are confident that we are in compliance with the gag clause requirements.
Additional information regarding the Gag Clause Prohibition requirements can be found on the CMS website. On this site, plan sponsors can find Frequently Asked Questions, detailed instructions for submitting the attestations, a link to the reporting template, and a link directly to the web form for submission.
If you have additional questions, contact your account manager.
Legal notices
Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna).
Health benefits and health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations.