"Functional Equivalence" Survives In '05: Aranesp, Procrit Payment Unchanged In OPPS

Amgen’s darbepoetin will continue to be reimbursed on par with J&J’s epoetin, using a coversion formula of 330:1, in the hospital outpatient setting. CMS no longer uses the "functional equivalence" terminology, but the agency still wants "equitable" payment for the two EPO brands.