Sharing the latest communication from CMS on plan finder

Ann Kayrish

Senior Program Manager for Medicare

National Council on Aging

251 18^th Street South

Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22202

571-527-3945

From: Butler, Susie E. (CMS/OC) <xxxxxx@cms.hhs.gov>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2019 7:38 AM
To: Simpson, Melissa (ACL) <xxxxxx@acl.hhs.gov>; Kinney, Rebecca (ACL) <xxxxxx@acl.hhs.gov>; Leslie Fried <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>; Ann Kayrish <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>
Subject: new message on resources (didn't want you to wait for the listserv) - please share

This message originated from outside your organization.

Dear Partners,

We appreciate the comments we’ve received on the new Medicare Plan Finder and are continuing to work on improvements for the upcoming Open Enrollment. We have added several new resources to the Plan Finder page on our National Training website and encourage you to access these for information and training. A few highlights to note:

New Overview video, with end-to-end walkthrough
3 new “Pointers” videos – quick tips focused on Plan results, Pharmacy selection, and adding Prescription Drugs
Updated Top Q&As, now with this list of improvements that are planned to be in place by the start of Open Enrollment on October 15, 2019:

Display drug tier costs
Link directly from MyMedicare.gov to new Plan Finder
Integrate partial gap coverage into cost sharing
Adding Original Medicare info and card for comparison
Add sort option for total cost (plan premium + drug costs)
Add footnote for excluded drugs
Maintain filters and SNP selections when using back button
Add option to add mail order on pharmacy selection page
Refine the ZIP code entry process
Show distinction between preferred in-network versus in-network pharmacy on the Costs-by-Phase table
Add note about over-the-counter drugs to drug lookup page
Add option to compare a third retail pharmacy when mail order isn’t selected
Improve Print Format
Various backend technical updates to prepare for display of 2020 plans

Also, remember that registration is still open for our next Medicare Plan Finder webinar, at 2:00 p.m. ET on October 9, 2019. Register here: events-cms.webex.com/events-cms/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee59cd55370d29eb12490b31c9fc42863. If you have feedback on the new Plan Finder, you can email it to xxxxxx@cms.hhs.gov.

Susie Butler, Director

Partner Relations Group

Office of Communications

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

7500 Security Boulevard

Mailstop S1-05-06

Baltimore, MD 21244

410-786-7211

202-306-1611 (cell)

The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

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