Health policy experts on Tuesday urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to boost staffing, noting that the government shutdown has only hindered services.

This staffing shortage couldn’t have come at a worse time, as open enrollment for Medicare plans began earlier this month.

“We don't have the infrastructure right now in place to really make sure those benefits get delivered well and get communicated well,” said Jon Blum, a health policy expert at the University of Southern California, at The Hill’s “Bang for Your Buck: Get the Most From Your 2026 Medicare Drug Benefits” event, sponsored by the Alliance for Aging Research.

“I think we really have to have a conversation together regarding what is the right staffing needs that we need at CMS, and I would argue strongly that it's far too low right now, and that's going to have impact throughout the country,” he........

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