The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published the final Medicare plan marketing rule and the interim final rule that were announced Monday in the Federal Register.
The rule and interim final rule affect agents and brokers who sell Medicare Advantage coverage and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
Comments on the interim final rule are due Nov. 17.
CMS officials note in a discussion of the final rule that they received many comments about a provision that would keep Medicare product marketers from serving free meals to prospects.
"Commenters in favor of the prohibition expressed that the inclusion of meals as a prohibited item would help protect beneficiaries by preventing mass enrollments without personal attention to the appropriateness of the plan," officials write.