CMS opens the second CY 2027 Medicare Plan Finder benefit and drug-pricing preview through September 11

What happened

CMS’s September 1 memorandum sets the second 2027 Medicare Plan Finder benefit and drug-pricing preview for September 8 at 6 a.m. through September 11 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern. The dated preview window has passed by this edition’s coverage cutoff; that does not establish whether any particular plan completed its review. The memo lists no known issues and describes resolved displays, including D-SNP Part A cost sharing, drug tiers and prior-authorization/referral labels. Those are statements about the preview, not a certification of each plan’s submitted data.

Plans are encouraged to compare benefits with HPMS reports. Updates submitted after the preview’s data-as-of date will not appear, and 2026 Medicare-defined rates are displayed because 2027 rates were not yet released at the memo date. Drug pricing reflects submitted formulary, excluded-drug and pricing files, shows individual benefit phases without applying their thresholds, and can show cash price when a location or supply frequency is unavailable. CMS recommends representative comments for widespread defects. These limits distinguish a useful submission check from a final beneficiary cost quotation.

Why it matters

Comparing like-for-like data helps separate expected preview behavior from a real submission or display defect. An expired review window does not prove an organization’s work was completed.

Implementation playbook

1. Compare each CY 2027 plan-benefit preview with its HPMS benefit report and record exceptions, including D-SNP Part A cost sharing and prior-authorization or referral displays. Any intermediate preparation date is an internal target; it does not replace the source’s operative deadline. Managed Care · Due 2026-09-10
2. Compare drug-pricing preview results with submitted formulary, excluded-drug and drug-pricing files, then submit representative CMS comments for each distinct defect before the preview closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Any intermediate preparation date is an internal target; it does not replace the source’s operative deadline. Managed Care · Due 2026-09-11

Sources

• CMS HPMS Memos for WK 1 September 1-4, 2026 bundleOfficial · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 2026-09-04 · Source review 2026-09-10
• CMS HPMS Memos for WK 1 September 1-4, 2026 archive pageOfficial · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 2026-09-04 · Source review 2026-09-10