Announcements

September and October are historically the busiest months for Plan Sponsors preparing their annual applications. Review the following tips and resources from CMS’ RDS Center to assist in a successful Application Submission Process.

As previously announced on April 22, 2016, CMS’ RDS Center is changing the location for sending cost and retiree data files to the RDS Center Mainframe. This change only impacts Vendors that submit data to CMS' RDS Center using Connect:Direct and does not affect participants that submit data using the RDS Secure Website or through their COB:VDSA or MIR contractor. CMS’ RDS Center has determined a date for when files must be sent to the new location.

CMS' RDS Center is pleased to announce a change in retiree processing that expedites cost reporting and Reconciliation tasks.

Effective immediately, Vendors that previously submitted files to the RDS Center Mainframe using Connect:Direct must now send files to RDS' new mid-tier location. Please visit the Mainframe Submission: File Location Change page for additional information about this change.

Plan Sponsors and Vendors that have submitted retiree files to CMS' RDS Center since December 9, 2016 are currently experiencing a delay in receiving Retiree Response Files.

March is one of the busiest Reconciliation months for many RDS Plan Sponsors. To help facilitate a successful Reconciliation process, CMS’ RDS Center encourages the Plan Sponsor community to take advantage of the resources available on the RDS Program Website.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a memorandum (updated 09/25/2017) regarding the New Medicare Card Project (known before as the Social Security Number Removal Initiative (SSNRI)).

On Monday, April 3, 2017 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Cost Threshold and Cost Limit amounts that apply to Plan Sponsors participating in CMS' Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program, with qualified prescription drug years that end in 2018, as well as the parameters for Medicare Part D plans in 2018.

CMS' RDS Center has updated the Login Warning that all users must agree to when accessing the RDS Secure Website. To review the updated Login Warning, refer to the Login Warning page located in the Agreements section of the RDS Program Website.

CMS' RDS Center presented the New Medicare Card Project webinar on October 24, 2017. A recap article has been published describing the topics covered and answering common questions that were received.