On February 5th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule and an advanced notice for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Prescription Drug Benefit programs. These proposals reflect the current Administration’s health priorities of improving kidney care and transparency for beneficiaries. For example, the proposals include expanding MA enrollment to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients and requiring Part D plan sponsors to implement a Real-Time Benefit Tool (RTBT). MA and Part D both have strong bipartisan support and are growing, with MA now accounting for 34% of all Medicare beneficiaries, making these programs an effective platform for CMS to launch new initiatives. [Included] are highlights of the advanced notice and proposed rule.

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