--- title: NAIFA’s Medicare Collective Stresses the Value of Agents in CMS Meeting description: NAIFA’s Medicare Collective emphasizes the crucial role of agents in Medicare and advocates for better compensation to protect consumers, as discussed in their meeting with CMS officials. image: https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/CMS%20Meeting%20Piece.png --- [**](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/naifas-medicare-collective-stresses-the-value-of-agents-in-cms-meeting-1#tmpmodule_1610372601348145) - [Join](https://belong.naifa.org/join) - [Renew](https://community.naifa.org/login.aspx) - [Find an Advisor Pro](https://findapro.lifehappens.org/) **** [![belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white.png?width=140&height=109&name=belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white.png) ![logo_NAIFA_NEW](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_NAIFA_NEW.png?width=100&height=73&name=logo_NAIFA_NEW.png) ](https://lhc.naifa.org/) [**](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/naifas-medicare-collective-stresses-the-value-of-agents-in-cms-meeting-1#tmpmodule_1610372601348145) - [Centers Home](https://centers.naifa.org/centers) - [LHC Home](https://lhc.naifa.org) - LHC Collectives - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Collective](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecp) - [Medicare Collective](https://lhc.naifa.org/medicare) - Advisory Councils - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Advisory Council](https://lhc.naifa.org/advisory-council) - [Medicare Advisory Council](https://lhc.naifa.org/mc-advisory-council) - Advocacy - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Legislative Working Group](https://lhc.naifa.org/legislative-working-group) - [Medicare Legislative Working Group](https://lhc.naifa.org/medicare-legislative-working-group) - [Advocacy Action Center](https://advocacy.naifa.org/news) - Events - [Inside the New NAIFA Medicare Collective Working Group webinar recording](https://vimeo.com/1211793994/19889c51bc?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) - [Medicare Collective Impact Day 2026 Recording](https://belong.naifa.org/navigating-disruption-and-market-contraction-in-medicare-business-in-2026-and-beyond) - [Peak 65 Series: Impact Day for Lifetime Healthcare Recording](https://lhc.naifa.org/peak65) - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Archives](https://lhc.naifa.org/archives) - [2025 LECP Impact Day Recording](https://vimeo.com/1138688419/b50a406b29?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) - [LHC Webinars](https://lhc.naifa.org/archives) - Blogs - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Blog](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog) - [Medicare Blog](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog) ** ![LHCP-banner](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/LHCP-banner.jpg?width=8333&height=4167&name=LHCP-banner.jpg) # **Medicare Healthcare Collective** ###### 2 min read # [NAIFA’s Medicare Collective Stresses the Value of Agents in CMS Meeting](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/naifas-medicare-collective-stresses-the-value-of-agents-in-cms-meeting-1) By [NAIFA](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/author/naifa) on Nov 13, 2025 3:19:36 PM ###### Topics: [Medicare](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/topic/medicare) [Medicare Part D](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/topic/medicare-part-d) ![](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/CMS%20Meeting%20Piece.png) Representatives of NAIFA’s [Medicare Collective](https://lhc.naifa.org/medicare), an initiative of the Lifetime Healthcare Center, met with officials from the [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services](https://www.cms.gov/) (CMS) to discuss the role of brokers and agents in providing vital guidance, services, and protections to consumers in the Medicare space. They presented the Collective’s plan to work with CMS and insurance carriers to ensure Medicare beneficiaries receive the best possible coverage and care in these challenging times. They also addressed rising concerns that the failure to adequately compensate agents for their work would harm consumers by leaving them vulnerable to misinformation or without competent, personalized assistance as they navigate complex coverage options, plans, and regulations. In introductory remarks, [Dr. Darwin Hale](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-darwin-hale-836a4213/), CEO & Founder [Advocate Health Advisors](https://www.advocatehealthadvisors.com/), offered an overview of the Medicare Collective’s mission to support insurance and financial professionals specializing in Medicare solutions and help them enhance their expertise on the complexities of healthcare-related products and regulations. He also stressed that Medicare Collective members can serve as a valuable resource to CMS. “Our members see firsthand which programs work and which do not,” said [Carroll Golden](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrollgolden/), Executive Director for NAIFA’s Knowledge Centers and the Collective. “Together CMS and the NAIFA Medicare Collective can improve protections for beneficiaries in a way neither one can separately.” Representing NAIFA at the meeting were Dr. Hale; [Stephen Kaplan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/skap5440/), Chief Legal, Compliance, Privacy & Policy Officer [HealthPlanOne](https://www.hpone.com/), LLC; [Chris Houlihan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophermhoulihan/), [AmeriLife](https://amerilife.com/) Chief of Staff; and [Craig Ritter](https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigritter/), CEO [Ritter Insurance Marketing](https://ritterim.com/), LLC, an Integrity Company; along with Golden, NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations [Diane Boyle](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianerboyle/), and Senior Director for Government Relations [Michael Hedge](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hedge-jr-259b217/). The [Medicare Collective Advisory Council ](https://lhc.naifa.org/mc-advisory-council)members closed the meeting by asking for future collaborations to assist CMS in executing the vision of CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz as unveiled in his recent speech to the Better Medicare Alliance. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) # TOPIC LIST : - [Medicare (13)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/medicare) - [Knowledge Centers (12)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/knowledge-centers) - [medicare collective (8)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/medicare-collective) - [Health Care (5)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/health-care) - [Affordable Care Act (2)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/affordable-care-act) - [Medicare Part D (2)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/medicare-part-d) - [Financial Planning (1)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/financial-planning) - [Lifetime Healthcare Center (1)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/lifetime-healthcare-center) - [Long-Term Care (1)](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/tag/long-term-care) ###### [** Previous Post](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/hospital-indemnity-with-medicare-supplement-a-2026-trend-to-know) [![](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/SMS_081425.webp) ](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/hospital-indemnity-with-medicare-supplement-a-2026-trend-to-know) ###### [Hospital Indemnity With Medicare Supplement: A 2026 Trend to Know](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/hospital-indemnity-with-medicare-supplement-a-2026-trend-to-know) ###### [Next Post **](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/medicare-supplements-and-what-people-actually-use-them-for) [![](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20serene%20and%20inviting%20office%20space%20designed%20for%20client%20consultations%20about%20Medicare%20Supplements%20A%20polished%20wooden%20desk%20sits%20at%20the%20c.png) ](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/medicare-supplements-and-what-people-actually-use-them-for) ###### [Medicare Supplements and What People Actually Use Them For](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/medicare-supplements-and-what-people-actually-use-them-for)   ### Featured ### Sign up for updates ### SIGN UP FOR UPDATE Our Key supporters ## **Sponsors** [![Advocate_Health_Advisors_logo](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Advocate_Health_Advisors_logo.png?width=287&height=111&name=Advocate_Health_Advisors_logo.png) ](https://www.advocatehealthadvisors.com/) [![AmeriLife](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/amerilife.svg)](https://amerilife.com/) [![HealthPlanOne-Primary-Logo](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/HealthPlanOne-Primary-Logo.jpg) ](https://www.hpone.com/) [![Integrity-1](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/Integrity-1.svg)](https://integrity.com/) [![messer-logo-hi-res](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/messer-logo-hi-res.png?width=150&height=75&name=messer-logo-hi-res.png)](https://www.messerfinancial.com/) [![Ritterin](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/Ritter.png) ](https://ritterim.com/) [![SeniorMarketSales_Logo](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SeniorMarketSales_Logo.jpg?width=150&height=55&name=SeniorMarketSales_Logo.jpg)](https://www.seniormarketsales.com/) [![The Brokerage Inc](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/The_Brokerage_Inc.png)](https://thebrokerageinc.com/) [![advocacy-logo-1](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/advocacy-logo-1.png?width=400&height=129&name=advocacy-logo-1.png) ![advocacy-logo-1](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/advocacy-logo-1.png?width=400&height=129&name=advocacy-logo-1.png) ](https://advocacy.naifa.org/news) [**](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog/naifas-medicare-collective-stresses-the-value-of-agents-in-cms-meeting-1#tmpmodule_1737967151068152) - 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