CMS Expects Part D Plans To Go To Great Lengths Facilitating Participation In New Copay ‘Smoothing’ Option

The Medicare draft guidance seems designed to ensure seniors don’t miss out on the IRA benefit. 

white pigeon with a letter in mouth
Part D plans will not have to use carrier pigeons, but they will have to take many steps to notify beneficiaries of a new copay "smoothing" program. • Source: Shutterstock

Medicare Part D plans must take a wide variety of steps prior to and throughout the plan year to ensure enrollees and pharmacies are aware of the program’s new prescription payment plan and have several different ways to opt-in, under a new Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services draft guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s co-pay “smoothing” plan.

Starting in 2025, the IRA’s Medicare Part D redesign offers beneficiaries with very high-cost prescriptions the option to spread their...

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