# Research workflows

Choose the tool that answers the person's question, then preserve its evidence and next action.

## Browse or rank plans

Use `search_medicare_advantage_plans` or `search_part_d_plans` to browse availability. Use the corresponding `rank_` tool when personalized ranking is requested. A catalog's sort order is not a personalized recommendation.

Ask only for missing inputs. Confirm ambiguous location and identity choices, and retain the returned continuation context. Use the requested supported coverage year or disclose the serving year returned by the tool. Do not mix years.

## Check doctors

Use `find_medicare_doctors` to identify a doctor and office. Use `check_my_doctors_in_plan_network` for a chosen plan, or `find_medicare_plans_for_my_doctors` for doctor-first plan comparison.

Directory-listed participation, verified evidence, and exact-office uncertainty are different. Missing evidence does not establish out-of-network status. Hospital identification does not establish hospital network coverage.

## Check prescriptions

Use `find_medication` to resolve an exact medication. Use `check_plan_drug_coverage` for a chosen plan's published formulary, `compare_plan_drug_costs` for its supported pharmacy-savings workflow, or `rank_part_d_plans` for personalized standalone Part D ranking.

Preserve quantity, days supply, pharmacy choice, the estimate's time horizon, and fallback or missing-price warnings. An unavailable price is not free medication.

## Explain Medicare or find media coverage

Use `search_tpp_content` and `get_tpp_content`. Article text is an educational source, not live plan evidence. Attribute newsroom reporting to its original publisher and TPP summaries to TPP.

See [content access](/content/) for request examples and feeds.