What is the maximum permissible value of a gift given to attendees at a Medicare marketing event, according to CMS guidance?

• A. Five dollars
• B. Ten dollars
• C. Fifteen dollars
• D. Twenty dollars

Answer: (C)

Gifts at Medicare marketing events are kept nominal in value to prevent any impression of inducement in plan choices. The maximum allowed value for any single gift item given to an attendee is fifteen dollars; items valued higher than that would not comply with CMS guidance. Cash or cash equivalents, such as cash, checks, or gift cards, are not allowed at all. In practice, this means a modest item like a pen, water bottle, or small tote bag valued at up to fifteen dollars is acceptable, while more valuable items or cash-based gifts are not. If multiple gifts are given, each item must stay within the limit, and gifts should be distributed fairly to all attendees to avoid any perception of favoritism. This approach helps keep marketing activities informational and compliant with anti-kickback and CMS rules.