One method of specifying a model name in CDL is to use the $[model_name] comment (a space followed by a $ indicates that the rest of the line is a comment in spice).
Another way of specifying the model name use the model name directly.
I don't think it shouldn't make a difference during netgen whether the model name was $[model_name] or model_name. Other LVS tools do not differentiate.
Similarly parameters expressed as comments $w=... should compare to those expressed as parameters w=....