Additional Enhancements are NOW live in Ascend!

As AEP is in full swing, we want to ensure you are getting the most from the Ascend Enrollment Platform. We are excited to announce the following enhancements are now live in Ascend:

• Preferred Provider Indicator
• Limited Income Subsidy (LIS) Calculations
• PCP Selection Pop Up
• Ascend Site - Spanish Translation

Preferred Provider Indicator

In the Provider Search screen, you will see a green dot next to the preferred provider, this represents our highly ranked providers.

• Reminder! If you are selecting a provider as a PCP on an application, you must check if the provider is in-network by selecting the More button. Verify the provider is accepting new patients for the plan the beneficiary has selected.

Limited Income Subsidy (LIS) Calculations

• When searching in Ascend, Part D premiums, deductibles, and drug costs will now be adjusted based on the member's LIS level.
• Remember! You must be logged into your agent account in Ascend to view this feature.
• The extra financial help screen will appear after the provider search tool within Ascend. To view the LIS level, under the Extra Help radio button, enter the beneficiary's name, date of birth, and MBI.

PCP Selection Pop-Up

When in the Ascend Provider Search tool, a pop-up will appear if you select a provider who does not have a PCP flag.

• Remember! Under the View Details button, verify a provider is in-network, has a PCP flag, and is accepting new patients if they are not yet connected to the provider.

• If a PCP is not selected, you will get a red disclaimer on the PCP selection screen alerting you a provider is not selected. It is recommended to select an in-network PCP, but if the beneficiary does not wish to choose a PCP, select Next again to move forward.
• Note: The beneficiary will be automatically assigned a PCP upon enrollment if one is not selected.

• If a provider is not selected or if a PCP is manually entered from the Find a Provider tool, then you will receive a pop-up alerting you that a PCP is not selected. To continue with no selection or the information you have entered, select Ok. If you would like to update this data, select Cancel and update the PCP section of the application.

Ascend Site - Spanish Translation

• You can now have the 2021 Ascend site translated into Spanish. Navigate to the bottom of the Ascend screen and select the Espanol button to translate the entire site into Spanish.

Note: 2022 Spanish site translation is coming soon!

Important Tips and Reminders

Value Based Enrollment (VBE)

Now is the time to complete your VBE's for your 2022 enrollees!

• Value Based Enrollments include the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and Over-the-Counter (OTC) benefit for eligible plans. View the 2022 Ascend Integrated+Standalone VBE Guide for additional details and exclusions.
• The preferred method of enrollment is to complete the enrollment in Ascend and launch the VBE portal directly after enrollment. You can access the 2022 VBE Standalone Site if needed.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Reminders

• Ascend OTC pre-order is only for plans with an OTC benefit with CVS.
• The OTC pre-order is a limited list, not the full catalog. To order items from the full catalog, you must order through CVS after the effective date and not through the Ascend pre-order option.
• The maximum quantity limit for the pre-order list is three.
• You must calculate the total cost of the pre-order to ensure the order does not exceed the benefit amount for the quarter.
• The OTC pre-order submitted through the VBE process will take the place of one of their mail orders for the quarter. The member may go in-store to order after their effective date.

We encourage you to review a recently shared Important Tips and Reminders Communication that provided quick access to guides and additional information.

Thank you for your continued partnership!