Recent Changes in Law, Regulations and Guidance Relating to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D

___________________ Center for Medicare Advocacy Special Report Recent Changes in Law, Regulations and Guidance Relating to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Numerous changes were made to Medicare law, regulations and guidance during the first half of 2018. The changes are particularly noteworthy regarding Part C, governing private Medicare plans, known as Medicare Advantage (MA), and Part D, the prescription drug benefit. This Report focuses on the impact to Medicare beneficiaries from changes to Parts C and D pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA), a final rule issued on Parts C and D (CMS-4182-F), and the Final Call Letter for 2019. While the BBA made a number of significant changes to Medicare beyond Parts C and D, those changes are not generally discussed in this Report. Instead, the Report highlights many of the changes to MA and Part D most relevant to Medicare beneficiaries and those supporting or assisting them. Part I of the Report provides a summary of these changes, along with relevant citations, and is organized by changes to MA, Part D and changes that impact both programs. Part II of the Report considers the potential impact of some of these changes, particularly with respect to MA benefits, consumer decision-making and informed choice, and the impact of the changes on the traditional Medicare program. The Report calls for greater oversight of MA plans, stronger consumer protections, and an expansion of new benefits in the traditional Medicare program instead of only in Medicare Advantage. Full report: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Report.-Summary-2019-Call-letter-and-C-D-Rule-1.pdf Summary of Changes only: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Report.-2019-Call-Letter-and-C-D-Rule-Summary-of-Changes.pdf   Discussion Only: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Report.-2019-Call-letter-and-C-D-Rule-Discussion-Conclusion.pdf Share          Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. • www.MedicareAdvocacy.org PO Box 350, Willimantic, CT 06226 • 1025 CT Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036