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Code Break: Medicare Accelerates ‘J-Code’ Assignment To Boost Uptake Of New Drugs

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Manufacturers can apply for permanent Medicare reimbursement codes on a quarterly basis rather than annually going forward to allow for more frequent coding awards. Recently about two dozen drugs, including three biosimilars, received permanent codes earlier than usual.

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CMS Concession On Coding A Welcome Change

Manufacturers of new drugs covered by Medicare Part B can obtain permanent, unique reimbursement codes months earlier than in the past under a new policy implemented by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make it easier for providers to adopt innovative treatments.

CMS is moving to a process that allows manufacturers to apply for permanent “J-codes" under the Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS) on a quarterly basis and receive codes more...

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