New Plan Designs for Medicare Parts C and D are Coming

On April 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (CMS-4185-F) that updates the Medicare Advantage (MA or Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) programs by promoting innovative plan designs, improved quality, and choices for patients.

The final rule will increase MA plan choices for the 2019 plan year and CMS intends to continue to improve patients’ access to MA plans that meet their unique health needs. CMS intends to further increase plan flexibility and plan choices that will provide patients with more MA options and new benefits.

CMS’s fact sheet discusses the major provisions of the final rule that will implement certain provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, improve MA and Part D program quality and accessibility, and clarify program integrity policies. The final rule is available from the Federal Register.