Overly broad interpretation of national coverage determination for next generation sequencing restricts Medicare beneficiary access to vital testing and adversely impacts cancer care
WASHINGTON, DC – February 1, 2019 – Leading health care companies and organizations representing patients, providers, academic medical centers, laboratories, and diagnostic manufacturers urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise its interpretation of the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). In a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, 63 organizations expressed serious concerns that the overly broad interpretation will restrict patient access to medically necessary and relevant clinical tests and adversely impact cancer care and outcomes.
CMS’ latest guidance directly undermines beneficiaries’ coverage as finalized in last year’s NCD. NGS-based testing is now the standard of care for cancer patients, and the current interpretation implies NGS-based testing will become non-covered for many Medicare beneficiaries. This has a direct result on beneficiaries’ access and coverage to essential testing that can make a fundamental difference in their treatment.
In particular, those with early-stage cancer who may have a genetic predisposition based on family history or other acceptable criteria will not be eligible for testing using NGS-based methods. Restricting patients with early-stage cancers from accessing hereditary testing may lead to poorer outcomes as they are not receiving optimal therapy based on their genetic status.
“It is essential that CMS unequivocally maintain coverage for medically necessary NGS-based tests. Imposing broad restrictions on standard of care testing will have serious consequences for Medicare beneficiaries and negatively impact their care,” said Julie Khani, President of the American Clinical Laboratory Association.
“CMS’ interpretation of the NGS NCD contradicts and reverses previously established policies. The NCD supersedes existing local coverage determinations that provide crucial coverage of NGS-based genetic testing for mutations associated with inherited cancer syndromes–like BRCA mutations and Lynch syndrome–in patients without advanced cancer,” said Sue Friedman, Executive Director of FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. “This action will harm patients! We are extremely disappointed that there was never an opportunity for patient advocacy groups to formally comment or discuss the implementation of this policy and frustrated that these medically necessary tests are now not eligible for Medicare coverage.”
“AMP is committed to working with key stakeholders to preserve broad patient access to the thousands of clinically- and analytically-validated NGS-based testing for cancer and other conditions that benefit patients each and every day,” said Mary Steele Williams, Executive Director of Association for Molecular Pathology. “Rather than creating additional barriers, we urge CMS to consider the collective comments from this diverse community of health care organizations and reinstate coverage for these medically necessary hereditary cancer tests. Without precision diagnostics, there is no precision medicine.”
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To view the full letter and list of undersigned organizations, please visit http://www.
ABOUT ACLA
The American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) is a not-for-profit association representing the nation’s leading clinical and anatomic pathology laboratories, including national, regional, specialty, hospital, ESRD and nursing home laboratories. The clinical laboratory industry employs nearly 277,000 people directly and generates over 115,000 additional jobs in supplier industries. Clinical laboratories are at the forefront of personalized medicine, driving diagnostic innovation and contributing more than $100 billion to the nation’s economy. For more information, visit http://www.
About FORCE
No one should have to face hereditary breast, ovarian and related cancers alone. Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) is the voice of the hereditary cancer community, providing support, education and awareness to help those facing hereditary breast, ovarian and related cancers know their healthcare options and make informed decisions. The organization is the de facto leader in guiding critical research and policy issues that impact the hereditary cancer community. For more information about FORCE and hereditary cancers, please visit http://www.
ABOUT AMP
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was founded in 1995 to provide structure and leadership to the emerging field of molecular diagnostics. AMP’s 2,500+ members practice in the various disciplines of molecular diagnostics, including bioinformatics, infectious diseases, inherited conditions, and oncology. They include individuals from academic and community medical centers, government, and industry; including pathologist and doctoral scientist laboratory directors; basic and translational scientists; technologists; and trainees. Through the efforts of its Board of Directors, Committees, Working Groups, and members, AMP is the primary resource for expertise, education, and collaboration in one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare. AMP members influence policy and regulation on the national and international levels, ultimately serving to advance innovation in the field and protect patient access to high quality, appropriate testing. For more information, visit http://www.
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