The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking measures to safeguard a critical season for American health care, announcing the temporary return of approximately 3,000 workers who are expected to manage the ongoing Medicare Open Enrollment and upcoming Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Open Enrollment periods. This recall, necessitated by the ongoing government shutdown, underscores the essential nature of these employees' duties and the impact staff shortages can have on federal health programs and their beneficiaries.
Last week, some employees of the Bureau of Labor Statistics were recalled to complete the September CPI report. This report contained data that was essential to computing the 2026 Social Security COLA. That report was released on October 24, nine days after its scheduled release date of October 15.
