The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to issue a separate payment for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, a change that has long been advocated for by the imaging industry. Currently, CMS bundles the payment for nuclear imaging agents together with the procedure, making it difficult for patients who require pricier new radiopharmaceuticals to access them. Under the proposed change, CMS would pay separately for diagnostic imaging agents with per-day costs above a threshold of $630. The Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has applauded the proposal, stating that it will allow patients access to more advanced diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures and align CMS' radiopharmaceutical reimbursement policy with other drugs included in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The Advanced Medical Technology Association, which represents device manufacturers, also sees this as an important step forward for patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease, and certain cancers. The CMS proposal will undergo a 60-day comment period before a final rule is issued in November, with implementation on January 1.
Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:51:21 GMT | Radiology Business