Changes have been made to the email accounts used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS’) Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program. Effective immediately, Plan Sponsors can only use the RDS@cms.hhs.gov email address to communicate with the RDS Program; the following email addresses previously used by CMS’ RDS Center have been deactivated:
- RDSAppeals@cms.hhs.gov
- RDS_Hearings@cms.hhs.gov
- RDSPayment@cms.hhs.gov
This information has been updated across the RDS Public Website. Please make the necessary changes to your email contacts to reflect this update. Plan Sponsors should contact CMS' RDS Center using the following methods:
- Email: Plan Sponsors may continue to submit emails to RDS@cms.hhs.gov. CMS’ RDS Center’s official means of communication with the Plan Sponsor community is through this email address. Please make any necessary adjustments to your email account or contact your network administrator to ensure that emails sent from this address are not blocked by any spam filters or Blocked Senders Lists, deleted, moved, or hidden for any other reason.
- Support Requests: Support Requests allow Plan Sponsors to select from a list of common topics, issues, and questions, and enter details for their request from within the RDS Secure Website. Step-by-step instructions for using this feature are available in the Submit or Reopen a Support Request section of the RDS User Guide. You may also refer to Common Questions.
Reminder: Do not include any Protected Health Information (PHI), as defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), in emails or support requests. Please do not send emails with attachments larger than 25mb.
Plan Sponsors use the RDS Secure Website to submit First Level Reconsideration-related Appeals. Subsequent correspondence regarding First Level Appeals should be submitted via Support Request or email to RDS@cms.hhs.gov. All documentary evidence the Plan Sponsor wishes CMS' RDS Center to consider should be included at the time of their appeal submission.
For Second Level Reconsideration Appeals, Plan Sponsors will use the CMS Office of Hearings Case and Document Management System (OH CDMS). The OH CDMS is a web-based portal for RDS Plan Sponsors to submit and maintain their Second Level Informal Hearing Appeals and to correspond with the CMS Hearing Officer. Access to specific cases is limited to the parties of the case, including party representatives. This Second Level Appeal process is not relevant to First Level Reconsiderations or to Third Level Administrator Reviews. RDS Plan Sponsors will continue to use the RDS Secure Website to submit First Level Appeals and will continue to follow the existing process for Third Level Administrator Reviews, which is communicated to Plan Sponsors through email during the Appeals process. Please refer to the following for additional information and guidance on these processes:
- Announcement: New Second Level Hearing Appeals Portal Begins Today!
- RDS User Guide: Appeal an Initial Determination
- Common Questions: Appealing an Initial Determination
If you need more information, contact CMS' RDS Center.