Ted R. Mannen

Medicare's Clinical Research Policy -- Another Shoe Dropping?

That soft "thud" out of Baltimore last Friday may have been another Medicare clinical research shoe dropping.  For among a small torrent of transmittals that CMS uncorked just before the long holiday weekend were two that speak directly to how providers file claims for Medicare-reimbursed research.

Suddenly . . . CED

With the dawning of 2008, the outlines of how CMS might use Coverage with Evidence Development, or "CED," have become a little clearer . . .

Background

Since July 2006, when CMS issued its CED guidance document, there's been a phony war of sorts as agency officials have alluded to, but never moved explicitly to implement, the controversial new doctrine for making Medicare national coverage decisions.   But then, suddenly, just before the holidays, CMS struck with three CED proposals in eight days . . . as reported in an article in MX Magazine.