In April, Medicare Administrator Contractor (MAC) carrier Noridian published Carrier Advisory Committee (CAC) Voting Results for a draft policy on Vertebral Augmentation. The CAC meeting took place in March based on a draft policy that had been previously published. Several providers and specialty societies provided input to Noridian and the CAC members on clinical standards...

On May 21, CMS held a listening session on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment to solicit feedback from those prescribing opioids and those providing treatment for opioid use disorder. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) hosted the 90-minute virtual Listening Session to inform development of an opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment demonstration program...

In May, a group of national medical specialty societies provided input to federal lawmakers and regulators on steps to improve the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP). In a document released to U.S. Members of Congress and to administrators with the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),...

At a meeting on May 2, at the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) Annual Meeting, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma publicly announced the agency’s comprehensive strategy to improve patients’ access to emerging technologies. Administrator Verma’s remark build on recently released CMS policies designed to promote innovation in the U.S. healt...