2019 Certification Reminder

Don’t Lose Your Commissions!

It’s that time of year again when you need to complete your annual certifications.

There are two certifications for Health agents:

• 2019 FFM (Federally Facilitated Marketplace) registration and/or certification must be done by:

1. Independent agent
2. If commissions are paid to an agency, writing sub-agents and principal of agency

• 2019 Medicare PDP/Medicare Advantage certification must be done by:

1. Independent agent
2. If commissions are paid to an agency, writing sub-agents and principal of agency

In order to place new business effective 1/1/2019 and/or receive renewal commissions in 2019, agents must complete the appropriate certification before the end of the year.

*Additional Reminder*

2019 BCBS Special Enrollment Period Training must be done by:

1. Writing agent
2. This training will be available early 2019 and is done annually

2019 FFM (Federally Facilitated Marketplace) Certification

Before starting any certification curriculum, check to make sure your computer is compatible with the MLMS website.   I advise using the MLMS Check Your System configuration link which quickly shows if you need to do anything.  Log into the CMS portal, enter the MLMS Training website and click on MLMS Check your System link at the top of the page under How to Get Started.  This will check your computer to see if there is any action you need to do to prepare your computer.

Preparing Your Computer for the MLMS

1. Use Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer web browser
2. Enable Javascript
3. Allow Pop-Up windows
4. Use the MLMS Check Your System configuration link
5. Sometimes it is necessary to clear your internet cache
6. Enable cookies

Agents completing this certification for the first time or who did not complete this certification in 2018, must complete the full Individual Marketplace training for 2019.

1. Create an account on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Enterprise Portal (If you already have an account, do not create another one)
2. Request the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) Agent/Broker Role (If not done already)
3. Complete remote identity proofing (If not done already)
4. Complete Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) profile
5. Complete training through the MLMS or a CMS approved vendor (If using a CMS vendor, you must access the vendor’s training via the CMS portal and after completion, complete the applicable agreements in MLMS)
6. Execute the applicable agreements on the MLMS
7. Confirm registration status and print certificate

For detailed instructions 

Agents and Brokers who completed the FFM certification in 2018 are eligible to take the shorter Refresher Course.

1. Update your MLMS profile
2. Complete Refresher Training through the MLMS or a CMS approved vendor (If using a CMS vendor, you must access the vendor’s training via the CMS portal and after completion, complete the applicable agreements in MLMS)
3. Execute the applicable agreements on the MLMS
4. Confirm registration status and print certification

For detailed instructions 

Patty’s Helpful Hints

1. After entering the MLMS Training system, use the “Current Learning” link under the head on the left of the page, to access the courses.
2. You can only open a course that has a Launch button
3. To print your certificate of completion, click on the “Curriculum Status” link under the head on the left of the page. If you see 100% completed by the title of the curriculum, then click on Actions in the right to print certificate.
4. As you maneuver through the courses, windows may close and will need to be reopened from your task bar at the bottom of your screen.

For CMS Help Desks 

2019 Medicare PDP/Medicare Advantage Certification

For BCBS IL, 2019 MAPD/PDP certification training has two parts.  Both parts must be completed by:

1. If independent agent, the agent completes both parts
2. If an agency receives commissions, all writing sub-agents and the principal of the agency must complete both parts.

Part 1: AHIP Courses and Exams
Producers, sub-producers and agency principals must complete the following courses, exams and attestation on AHIP’s training platform:

1. Medicare Basics
2. Rules and Regulations
3. Fraud, Waste and Abuse
4. Fraud, Waste and Abuse Exam
5. Non-Discrimination Disclosure
6. 2019 Final Exam
7. 2019 General Compliance Attestation

AHIP Fee Reduced for BCBSIL Producers
BCBSIL has negotiated with AHIP to reduce the certification training fee to $125. That’s a savings of $50 on AHIP’s $175 standard fee.

AHIP Login Information

• User ID: National Producer Number (NPN). The preceding zeros within your NPN are not required. For example, if your NPN in 0001234567, enter 1234567.
• Password: Previously created password or the password you create during registration as a new user.

Part 2:  The 2019 Blue Cross Medicare Options certification curriculum

You may now access the product certification training curriculum via the HCSC page on the CMP/AHIP website. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the instructions below.

• Sales Agent Requirements course
• MAPD/PDP Product course and exam
• Producer or Agency Certification form
• Producer or agency Amendment (this doesn’t apply to Sub-agents)

All producers, sub-producers and agency principals must complete all courses in order to be deemed certified to sell 2019 MAPD/PDP plans.

Upon completion of all individual tasks- Part 1 (AHIP) and Part 2 (HCSC) – agency principals will receive an email notification to access the 2019 agency curriculum.

Then click on “Partner Link”.

Product Curriculum Login Information:

• CMP Login Information: User ID; Individual National Producer Number (NPN) excluding the leading zeros.
• Password: Previously created CMP password.
• Employee ID: 10 digit Individual National Producer Number (NPN) including the leading zeros.
• New Users: Click on Create An Account and enter your 10 digit NPN (including leading zeros) in the next field (Employee ID). Complete the requested profile fields to receive your curriculum assignment.

Call if you encounter any technical issues:

AHIP Page Technical Support: 866-234-6909
HCSC Page Technical Support: 888-706-0583

For general questions about the certification requirements you can:

Email us at bcmrxcertification@bcbsil.com.

Call the Producer Service Center 855-782-4272 (Toll-free).