We are currently recruiting volunteers for Listening Sessions on RDS Program satisfaction and Plan Sponsor retention. This initiative is open to you if you are:
- A current, active Account Manager or Authorized Representative assigned to at least one active RDS Plan Sponsor account; or
- A representative of a retiree data or cost data submission vendor supporting at least one RDS Plan Sponsor account and/or application.
If you are interested in participating in this initiative, please review the material below and contact CMS' RDS Center by Friday, April 3, 2026, to express your interest in volunteering.
CMS’ RDS Center Email Address: RDS@cms.hhs.gov
Background
The Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Program was enacted by Congress in December 2003 to reimburse Plan Sponsors through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a portion of their Qualifying Covered Retirees' costs for prescription drugs otherwise covered by Medicare Part D. For over two decades, RDS has been a trusted partner with state and local government, businesses, labor unions, churches and faith communities, and nonprofit organizations in maintaining and expanding access to affordable prescription drug benefits for retirees in communities across the United States.
Over the last five years, CMS' RDS Center has conducted listening sessions to collect your stories, opinions, and feedback as participants in the program. Past sessions focused on improving and streamlining the services and information we provide through the RDS Secure Website, Public Website, and RDS User Guide, as well as learning about the impact of new laws and regulatory changes on Plan Sponsors.
Looking to the future, RDS is dedicated to enhancing and expanding the program and the Plan Sponsor community. This means talking to Plan Sponsors about your experiences with the program—learning about your organization’s unique wants, needs, and challenges when providing retiree prescription drug benefits, why you joined RDS, why you continue to submit RDS applications year on year, what RDS does well, and how we can do better.
What to Expect
Listening Sessions will be offered Monday, April 6 through Friday, May 1, 2026. Listening Sessions will be conducted using Zoom. A Zoom account is not required to participate; however, registration for this event is required.
Only one volunteer will participate in each Listening Session. During the event, a CMS Facilitator will ask open-ended questions about your Plan Sponsor organization, the retiree prescription drug benefits offered by your organization, your reasons for joining the RDS program, your reasons for staying in the program, your satisfaction with the program, and other topics related to your history with RDS. These Listening Sessions are not intended to discuss RDS Secure Website features or design. Volunteers will have the opportunity to share opinions and provide feedback. Additional CMS staff may attend Listening Sessions as note takers/scribes or observers. Listening sessions will typically last one hour but could last longer with your approval.
Participation in RDS Listening Sessions is voluntary. Responses will be strictly confidential; participants will remain anonymous, and no data collected during RDS Listening Sessions will be directly attributable individually or to a Plan Sponsor organization.
Ready to Help?
Please email CMS’ RDS Center by Friday, April 3, 2026, to express your interest in volunteering.
Participants will be selected from the respondents. Participation in a previous RDS Listening Session or Usability Testing Session does not preclude volunteers from being selected. If you are selected, CMS' RDS Center will email additional information about scheduling your Listening Session. A consent form must be signed and returned before the session. Participants will not be compensated.
CMS’ RDS Center Email Address: RDS@cms.hhs.gov
Thank you for your continued participation in the RDS program. We look forward to hearing from you!
If you need more information, contact CMS' RDS Center.