The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a memorandum providing Medicare Part D (prescription drug) sponsors with revised guidance for the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program. The revised plan guidance guarantees that Medicare Part D enrollees will reap 50 percent savings on brand-name drugs, as well as some authorized generic drugs, during the 2011 coverage gap (aka donut hole), according to CMS. The revised guidance incorporates public comments on the draft guidance that was released on April 30, clarifying the implementation procedures for the discount program. CMS also provides responses to the public comments. FierceHealthPayer