Despite CMS mandates for Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers to update their directories every 90 days, a staggering 33% of provider listings contain inaccurate phone numbers, and 52% list incorrect provider locations.
Seniors calling doctors listed as “in-network” often encounter disconnected numbers, retired physicians, or providers who have stopped accepting new patients for a long time. A 2023 Senate Finance Committee report confirmed that beneficiaries could schedule appointments only 18% of the time due to these inaccuracies. Some directory errors have lingered unresolved for over a year, underscoring a serious disconnect between regulation and reality. ARTICLE