By Siddhi Mahatole

(Reuters) -The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will temporarily bring back furloughed staff next week to support open enrollment for Medicare and Affordable Care Act plans, despite the ongoing government shutdown, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

The agency said the move was needed “to best serve the American people” during the enrollment periods.

Staff had been furloughed for three weeks and will return on October 27, according to the spokesperson.

CMS will fund the return using user fees collected from data-sharing agreements with researchers, allowing it to resume limited operations without congressional appropriations.

It did not disclose how many workers are being recalled.

Open enrollment for Medicare began on October 15 and runs through December 7

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