**GAO-09-4**                      Published: Dec 12, 2008. Publicly Released: Dec 12, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

In Medicare Part D, enrollees in stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) are allowed to switch plans during an annual coordinated election period (AEP) set under law from November 15 to December 31, with new coverage effective January 1. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) required that plan sponsors send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)--using either its model or a nonmodel format--before the 2008 AEP. Among other things, GAO examined: (1) stakeholders' views of the model ANOC and CMS's efforts to assure its effectiveness, and (2) how the scheduling of the AEP affects the enrollment process for beneficiaries switching PDPs. Among the largest PDP sponsors, we selected eight to interview along with other stakeholders involved in the AEP. We also obtained and analyzed data from CMS.

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## Topics

Health Care

BeneficiariesCommunicationElectionsEvaluation criteriaGovernment information disseminationHealth care programsHealth care reformHealth insuranceManaged health careMedicareModificationsPharmaceutical industryPrescription drugsProgram evaluationStandardsStandards evaluationSystems evaluation