The OIG has issued a report entitled “Comparing Special Needs Plan Beneficiaries to Other Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Beneficiaries.” The OIG found that Special Needs Plan (SNP) beneficiaries filled an average of 11% more prescriptions than other Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD) beneficiaries, and the average annual prescription cost per SNP beneficiary was 49% higher compared to that of other MA-PD beneficiaries. On the other hand, SNP and other MA-PD beneficiaries were similarly exposed to potentially inappropriate drug pairs that could lead to adverse drug events. The OIG recommends that CMS take steps to help physicians and pharmacists prevent inappropriate drug pairs. Separately, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report entitled “Medicare Part D: Opportunities Exist for Improving Information Sent to Enrollees and Scheduling the Annual Election Period” Sponsors, pharmacists, beneficiary advocates, and counselors GAO interviewed expressed concern that CMS’s model Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) for the 2008 annual election period (AEP) did not effectively communicate drug plan changes to enrollees. In addition, although CMS and plan sponsors made improvements to the enrollment process, CMS data showed that about 15% of beneficiaries who chose to switch plans in the 2008 AEP were not fully enrolled in their new plan by January 1. To improve the AEP, the GAO recommends that CMS review alternative formats to communicate plan changes. Additionally, Congress should consider authorizing the HHS Secretary to amend the AEP schedule to include a processing interval between the end of the AEP and the effective date of new coverage. CMS concurred with the GAO recommendations.