Posted by Michael Wonder on 03 Oct 2018
CMS accelerates innovation and promotes patient access to medical technology
3 October 2018 - Reforms to Medicare’s Local Coverage Determination process will increase transparency and patient engagement in order to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the latest therapies and devices
Today, as part of broader efforts to modernize the Medicare program and bring the latest technologies and innovations to Medicare beneficiaries, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced changes to the way contractors decide which technologies are covered by publishing a revision to Medicare’s Program Integrity Manual.
Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) determine which healthcare items and services meet requirements for Medicare coverage — taking into account local variations in the practice of medicine — through “local coverage determinations” or LCDs. LCDs are issued when national determinations do not exist, or when MACs need to further define a national determination. The updated manual responds to Congress’ requirement in the 21st Century Cures Act for more transparency in the LCD process and aims to ensure an open LCD process that meets patients’ needs. The changes will clarify and simplify the process, helping to ensure that companies can get therapies and devices to patients more efficiently.
