**UPDATED 8/30/2023** The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Enterprise File Transfer (EFT) system will undergo maintenance every weekend between Friday, July 28, 2023, through Tuesday, September 5, 2023. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, maintenance will begin on Friday, September 1, 2023 and end on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. In preparation for these maintenance windows, the RDS Program is modifying the permissible times to send and receive CMS EFT files.
What This Means **UPDATED 8/30/2023**
Beginning Friday, July 28, 2023 at 6:00 PM EST, the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program will not accept or process files using the CMS EFT connection method on weekends. Weekends are defined as 6:00 PM EST every Friday through 7:00 AM EST the following Monday or next business day.
During the Labor Day holiday weekend, maintenance will begin on Friday, September 1, 2023. Weekend processing of CMS EFT files will resume on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
If you submit cost or retiree files to RDS Center via CMS EFT, please do not send any files from: Friday at 6pm EST through the following Monday (or next business day) at 7:00 AM EST. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, maintenance will begin at 2:00 PM EST on Friday, September 1, 2023. Files sent during this time will not be received and will not be processed. Any files submitted via CMS EFT during these maintenance windows must be resubmitted after the maintenance window closes and files are again accepted.
The following connection methods are not impacted, and standard file processing will continue to occur:
- RDS Secure Website to RDS Center, and
- Direct Connect:Direct connection with the RDS Center
CMS’ RDS Center has notified each RDS Vendor who processes files through the CMS EFT system. Please contact your vendor if you have questions about their connectivity method or if you believe your Application or Reconciliation Deadline may be impacted. For more information on Application and Reconciliation deadline dates please visit the RDS website.
Retiree Response Files
It takes CMS' RDS Center approximately 24 - 48 hours to process the Valid Initial Retiree List and a Monthly Retiree List. If more than three (3) business days pass without receiving the Retiree Response File, taking into consideration this maintenance window, contact CMS' RDS Center.
Cost Files
RDS does not provide response files for cost report submissions. If a Connect:Direct cost report was received and had no critical errors, it displays in the RDS Secure Website approximately 24 to 48 hours after it was sent. If more than two (2) days pass without the report displaying in the Secure Website, taking into consideration this maintenance window, contact CMS' RDS Center.
If you need more information, contact CMS' RDS Center.