Request for Information; Medicare Part D Reasonable and Relevant Pharmacy Contracting Standards

Open for public comment until Nov. 23, 2026. Comment on Regulations.gov

What it does

This request for information (RFI) solicits input from interested parties for purposes of establishing standards for reasonable and relevant pharmacy contract terms and conditions under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Section 6223(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CAA, 2026) amends section 1860D- 4(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act) to require Part D plan sponsors to permit any pharmacy that meets standard contract terms and conditions under the plan to participate as a network pharmacy of the plan. Section 6223(a) of the CAA, 2026 further requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for plan years beginning January 1, 2029, such standard contract terms and conditions offered by Part D plan sponsors must be reasonable and relevant according to standards established by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Finally, section 6223(a) of the CAA, 2026 requires the Secretary to issue this RFI for purposes of establishing such standards.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

1 part of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

42 CFR 423

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 0938-AW08 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, by November 23, 2026.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket CMS-2026-3037 on Regulations.gov
• Title 42 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register