Oct 22, 2025 - Health

Medicare agency to recall thousands of staff next week

Maya Goldman

HHS headquarters building — The Department of Health and Human Services headquarters building is seen in March. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to recall about 3,000 staff who were furloughed because of the shutdown starting on Monday, officials confirmed to Axios.

The big picture: CMS plans to tap fees it charges outside researchers to access its data to pay staff during the shutdown, a spokesperson said.

The sum would be repaid to the user fee fund when regular congressional appropriations resume. CMS said it identified the payment source in coordination with the White House and Health and Human Services, and continues to abide by rules governing the shutdown.

Zoom in: The change will allow CMS "to best serve the American people amid the Medicare and [Affordable Care Act] open enrollment seasons," the spokesperson said in an email.

Open enrollment for traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans began on Oct. 15. Enrollment for on the federal ACA marketplace starts Nov. 1.

Context: 47% of CMS staff have been on furlough since government funding ran out on Oct. 1, according to an HHS shutdown plan released before funding expired.

Medicare and Medicaid coverage has continued during the shutdown.
But some Medicare data releases have been delayed. CMS also has not been able to conduct public outreach and education, according to its contingency plan.

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Medicare agency to recall thousands of staff next week

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