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This final rule implements certain Medicare-related provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).  Specifically, section 120 of the CAA allows for Medicare coverage to take effect earlier for people who enroll in the General Enrollment Period (GEP) or within the last three months of their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).  Section 120 also gives the Secretary the authority to establish special enrollment periods for exceptional circumstances. Section 402 of the CAA extends immunosuppressive drug coverage for Medicare kidney transplant recipients beyond the current law 36-month limit following a transplant by providing immunosuppressive drug coverage under Medicare Part B for these individuals. Separately, this rule addresses enrollment in Medicare Part A for applicants who are eligible for Social Security benefits, but are not yet receiving them, and make certain updates related to state payment of Medicare premiums.

Overall Description of Deadline: Per the CMS notice published December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78442), except for certain Medicare payment regulations and certain other statutorily–mandated regulations, we schedule all Medicare final regulations for publication within the 3–year standardized time limit in the current Unified Agenda. We do not intend to delay publishing a Medicare final regulation for 3 years if we are able to publish it sooner.