On January 22, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it had withdrawn the draft 2010 Call Letter issued to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans on January 8, 2009. (See “CMS Issues Draft 2010 Call Letter for MA and Part D Plans,” American Health Lawyers Association, January 15, 2009). CMS posted a statement on its website which stated that the draft Call Letter had been withdrawn “pending an opportunity for further review of the document.” The statement says that CMS will re-post the Call Letter for public comment once it has been reviewed and made any revisions.
The Call Letter is issued annually to MA and Part D plans to provide guidance on submitting bids for the next benefit year. The next benefit year begins 2010 with bids due on June 1. CMS recognized in its statement withdrawing the Call Letter that plans need the Call Letter guidance before they can prepare their 2010 bids and that it will re-post the Call Letter “as soon as possible.”