Medicare Program; Contract Year 2027 & Certain Contract Year 2026 Policy & Technical Changes To The Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program & Medicare Cost Plan Program

On April 6, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published this final rule regarding the Medicare program, specifically contract year 2027 and certain contract year 2026 policy & technical changes to the Medicare Advantage program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit program, and Medicare Cost Plan program. This final rule revises the Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), and Medicare cost plan regulations to implement changes related to Star Ratings, marketing and communications, drug coverage, enrollment processes, special needs plans, and other programmatic areas . . .