{"abstract":"This final rule amends the Medicare Advantage (MA) program (Part C) regulations and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D) regulations to implement statutory requirements; improve program efficiencies; strengthen beneficiary protections; clarify program requirements; improve payment accuracy; and make various technical changes. Additionally, this rule finalizes two technical changes that reinstate previously approved but erroneously removed regulation text sections.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","name":"Health and Human Services Department","id":221,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/health-and-human-services-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/221","parent_id":null,"slug":"health-and-human-services-department"},{"raw_name":"Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services","name":"Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services","id":45,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/45","parent_id":221,"slug":"centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2015/02/12/2015-02671.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":417,"title":42},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":422,"title":42},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":423,"title":42}],"citation":"80 FR 7912","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective March 16, 2015, except amendments to Sec. 423.154, which are effective January 1, 2016.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["CMS-4159-F2"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2015-02671","effective_on":"2015-03-16","end_page":7966,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2015/02/12/2015-02671.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/02/12/2015-02671/medicare-program-contract-year-2016-policy-and-technical-changes-to-the-medicare-advantage-and-the","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2015-02671?publication_date=2015-02-12","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2015-02-12/2015-02671/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":55,"page_views":{"count":14436,"last_updated":"2026-06-24 14:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-02-12/pdf/2015-02671.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-02671.pdf?1423257432","publication_date":"2015-02-12","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2015/02/12/2015-02671.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0938-AS20":{"issue":"201410","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0938-AS20/contract-year-2015-policy-and-technical-changes-to-the-medicare-advantage-and-the-medicare-prescript","title":"Contract Year 2015 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs; Remaining Provisions (CMS-4159-F2)","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201410&RIN=0938-AS20&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0938-AS20"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0938-AR37/policy-and-technical-changes-to-the-medicare-advantage-and-the-medicare-prescription-drug-benefit-pr","title":"Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs for Contract Year 2015 (CMS-4159-P)"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=CMS-2014-0007","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"CMS-2014-0007","regulation_id_number":"0938-AR37","title":"Medicare Program; Contract Year 2015 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs (CMS-4159-P)","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2015-03-04T06:00:10Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":7912,"subtype":null,"title":"Medicare Program; Contract Year 2016 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs","toc_doc":"Contract Year 2016 Policy; Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, Technical Changes","toc_subject":"Medicare Program:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Emergency medical services","Grant programs-health","Health care","Health facilities","Health insurance","Health maintenance organizations (HMO)","Health professions","Loan programs-health","Medicare","Penalties","Privacy","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":80}