Reimbursement News In Brief

MCAC still kicking: CMS likely will convene the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee in July and September to discuss percutaneous myocardial revascularization and transmyocardial revascularization developments and bariatric surgery for obesity, respectively, Chief Medical Officer Sean Tunis stated at an AdvaMed reimbursement policy meeting May 12 in Baltimore. CMS has not scheduled an MCAC meeting since last September, giving some credence to industry concerns that the committee is underused. A new methodological subcommittee also plans to discuss changing the voting questions "towards judgments on the strength of evidence," instead of answering "yes" or "no" about whether the evidence is adequate to recommend national coverage, Tunis noted...