The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems proposed rule for 2025. Medicare Rights is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure access to affordable and equitable 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.

Our comments focus on the important proposals in support of formerly incarcerated individuals. We appreciate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) working to ensure Medicare payment and enrollment rules align with the lived experiences of this population and their responsibility for their own health care costs.