JUDGMENT OF RECORD ·
Medicare is building the provider directory as a free public service. That puts price pressure on paid provider data vendors, starting with this open enrollment.
On Sept 29 H1 said CMS picked it to source and quality check data for the National Provider Directory. The directory aims to cover more than 2 million providers and cut ghost networks. No contract value or timeline was given.
On Sept 28 CMS said Medicare.gov users can find and save providers while comparing plans, and sign in with Login.gov, ID.me or CLEAR. CMS put 2027 average Medicare Advantage premiums at $12.00, down 16.5%, with 34M enrollees. A Sept 29 executive order made Login.gov the entry point for large federal services.
The layer moving is distribution. The government is placing an authoritative directory inside the plan choice screen. Distribution Capture governs. Confidence is Low: the award rests on H1's own release and no displacement of private vendors shows yet.
- CONFIDENCE
- Low
- HORIZON
- Through 2027 open enrollment
- VS. PRIOR CALL
- New call
WHAT WOULD PROVE THIS WRONG
CMS delays or cancels the National Provider Directory launch past June 30, 2027, or two of the five largest insurers say by then that they will keep paying for their own directory data instead.