Avastin/Lucentis Update 33: The Wording of the CMS Order for Repricing of Avastin
The following note was received this morning by my contact in Senator Kohl’s office, from the director of CMS’ Office of Legislation, along with the wording, shown below, taken from the Federal Register of October 30th.
From the Office of Legislation of CMS:
“The excerpt from the CY 2010 hospital outpatient PPS final rule follows below. I have also attached the relevant page (page 615) from the copy of the rule that went on display at the Federal Register on Friday afternoon.
As requested, I am also checking with our program experts to see if we have any flexibility regarding the timing of this coding change (i.e., whether it can be applied retroactively or whether it can go into effect before January 1). If you have any questions, please let me know. “
From page 615 of the Federal Register, October 30, 2009:
We note that HCPCS code Q2024 (Injection, bevacizumab, 0.25 mg) was implemented effective October 2009 and represents a different dosage descriptor for the same drug described by HCPCS code J9035 (Injection, bevacizumab, 10 mg). Further, HCPCS code Q2024 has been replaced with HCPCS code C9257 (Injection, bevacizumab, 0.25 mg) effective January 1, 2010. In accordance with our CY 2010 policy to make a single packaging determination for a single drug, we are applying the methodology described above to bevacizumab and are assigning the applicable bevacizumab HCPCS codes the same packaging status for CY 2010. HCPCS codes C9257 and J9035 are included in Table 35 below.
In what I read from this in plain English, the reimbursement for the 0.25 mg dosage of Avastin, used in treating AMD, will revert on January 1st to the reimbursement in place before the change over on October 1st, or about $50.00, which I believe is what it was before the change.
Further, both CMS and Senator Kohl’s office, along with several ophthalmic organizations (AAO, ASRS, among others), continue to look into/request that the change in policy be implemented before January 1st.
From the Office of Legislation of CMS:
“The excerpt from the CY 2010 hospital outpatient PPS final rule follows below. I have also attached the relevant page (page 615) from the copy of the rule that went on display at the Federal Register on Friday afternoon.
As requested, I am also checking with our program experts to see if we have any flexibility regarding the timing of this coding change (i.e., whether it can be applied retroactively or whether it can go into effect before January 1). If you have any questions, please let me know. “
From page 615 of the Federal Register, October 30, 2009:
We note that HCPCS code Q2024 (Injection, bevacizumab, 0.25 mg) was implemented effective October 2009 and represents a different dosage descriptor for the same drug described by HCPCS code J9035 (Injection, bevacizumab, 10 mg). Further, HCPCS code Q2024 has been replaced with HCPCS code C9257 (Injection, bevacizumab, 0.25 mg) effective January 1, 2010. In accordance with our CY 2010 policy to make a single packaging determination for a single drug, we are applying the methodology described above to bevacizumab and are assigning the applicable bevacizumab HCPCS codes the same packaging status for CY 2010. HCPCS codes C9257 and J9035 are included in Table 35 below.
In what I read from this in plain English, the reimbursement for the 0.25 mg dosage of Avastin, used in treating AMD, will revert on January 1st to the reimbursement in place before the change over on October 1st, or about $50.00, which I believe is what it was before the change.
Further, both CMS and Senator Kohl’s office, along with several ophthalmic organizations (AAO, ASRS, among others), continue to look into/request that the change in policy be implemented before January 1st.
posted by Irv Arons @ 7:24 PM
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