The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to provide written comment on Implementation of the Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists of Health Providers Act (REAL Health Providers Act). Medicare Rights is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Each year, Medicare Rights provides services and resources to over three million people with Medicare, family caregivers, and professionals.

We are strongly supportive of efforts to make Medicare Advantage provider directories accurate, with up-to-date information about plan participation and practice information. Inaccurate provider directories harm beneficiaries when they attempt to find the care they need or to navigate plan selection. When people are unable to rely on directory information, they may enroll in plans that do not contract with their favored providers or that do not have sufficient network adequacy in their needed specialties or locations. This can lead to harm, including delayed care, interrupted treatment plans, or increased administrative burdens such as the need for special enrollment periods or continuity of care arrangements.

Our comments are informed by decades of assisting people with Medicare in finding in-network providers and enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans that best fit their needs.