March 13, 2018
By Ronald Hirsch, MD News Alert: No National Coverage Determination for Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators
For implanted cardioverter defibrillators, (ICDs) there is no national coverage determination (NCD), nor is there an implementation date. As we have reported in past editions of RACmonitor eNews, the national coverage determination (NCD) for placement of implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) was recently updated. As I reported last week, the changes…
March 8, 2018
By Ronald Hirsch, MD Update on Shared Decision-Making for Defibrillators
Uncertainty remains regarding specifics of documentation. A couple of weeks ago I talked about the new national coverage determination (NCD) for defibrillators. At the time, the effective date was not known. Well, it is now clear: it was effective immediately. That NCD also added the requirement for a formal shared…
February 22, 2018
By Ronald Hirsch, MD CMS Modifies NCD for ICDs; Shared Decision-Making Now Required
Every patient receiving an ICD for primary prevention will be required to have an encounter for shared decision-making using an evidence-based decision tool. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a final decision memo on changes to the national coverage determination (NCD) for implantable cardioverters defibrillators (ICDs).…
By David M. Glaser, Esq.
Here’s a quick quiz. Imagine that a National Coverage Determination (NCD) lists six conditions for which a treatment is covered. During a review you find dozens of patients who received the treatment for a seventh, unlisted condition. Which of the following is true? You must refund every patient immediately. You must…