SCAI Comments on CMS's Proposed Changes to IPPS

July 09, 2010

 

SCAI President Larry S. Dean, M.D., FSCAI recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) In response to CMS's hospital inpatient and long-term care prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2011.

In his comments Dr. Dean:

• Applauds CMS on the creation of a new ICD9-CM procedure code for Percutaneous mitral valve repair with implant (35.97), while also citing EVEREST II trial data in urging CMS to assign ICD9-CM 35.97 to MS-DRGs 216-221 to reflect the clinical coherence of the MitraClip patients with mitral valve repair and replacement surgery patients;
• Reiterates SCAI's strong concerns over the validity of PCI readmission measures undergoing endorsement through the National Quality Forum;
• Points out that a three-year freeze in creating new ICD-9/10 codes would adversely affect patients' access to new services, devices, diagnostics, and other medical technologies; and
• Commends CMS for its use of new technology add-on payments in an attempt to counter aspects of the IPPS DRG payment system which inhibit the adaptation of new technology.

Read SCAI's Comment Letter to CMS