Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
CMS Wants Your Input On Coverage Process
Medicare will fine-tune coverage decision-making
Opportunity: You can submit feedback online to CAGInquiries@ cms.hhs.gov. The deadline for comment submissions is June 5.
Now is your chance to let the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services know how you think it should weigh evidence in deciding whether to cover an item or service.
On April 7, the agency issued draft guidance to improve Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) process using a new policy called Coverage with Evidence Development (CED).
CMS will use the CED policy when a medical intervention lacks conclusive data supporting positive health outcomes or when sufficient data supports a medical intervention's effectiveness, but not medical necessity. CED could also answer questions about a medical intervention's safety, as well as risks and benefits to the Medicare patient demographic.
Watch for: CMS will hold an Open Door Forum on May 9 for public comment on many CED questions, such as:
To read the press release, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1423.
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