Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CMS Moves To Roll Back Medicare Coverage Of 'Breakthrough' Devices
Modern Healthcare: Biden To Toss Medicare Coverage For "Breakthrough" Technology
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to repeal a Trump-era rule allowing Medicare to cover medical devices designated as "breakthrough" technology by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a proposed rule on Monday. Former President Donald Trump's administration had said the original rule was necessary because the existing Medicare coverage determination process is too slow and could delay beneficiaries' access to the latest medical technology. Medical device companies lauded the plan when CMS first announced it last year. But patient-safety groups like ECRI worried it could threaten the safety of Medicare patients. Other experts agreed, and now CMS does too. (Brady, 9/13)
Axios: Medicare To Repeal Medical Device Rule Pushed By Trump Administration
The rule would have been a gift to the medical device industry, which supported the rule. It would have guaranteed four years of Medicare coverage for all devices designated as "breakthroughs" — i.e., new technologies that attempt to improve care for people with life-threatening conditions. However, these kinds of devices often do not prove any clinical benefit and have safety risks. The rule also did not require device manufacturers to conduct follow-up studies to show their devices specifically helped Medicare patients — that was completely voluntary. (Herman, 9/14)
In news about the Affordable Care Act —
Modern Healthcare: House Democrats Propose Permanent Expansion Of ACA Subsidies
House Democrats are proposing a permanent extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits to middle-income earners that would mark the largest expansion of the healthcare law's benefits since its passage in 2010. Under the House Ways and Means Committee's portion of a $3.5 trillion domestic policy bill Democrats are advancing, people with incomes at or above 400% of the federal poverty level—about $52,000 for an individual—would be eligible for subsidies to buy insurance on the ACA marketplaces. The bill would also make ACA subsidies more generous for people making between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. (Hellmann, 9/13)
