Verma: CAR-T NCD "New Ground" for CMS, Agency Needs More Time

On May 17, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) abruptly announced a delay in its release of a Medicare National Coverage Determination (NCD) for CAR T-cell therapy, which was due to be published that same day. The agency statement did not provide an explanation for the delay.

In a meeting with reporters on Wednesday, May 22, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said that the agency is taking care with the NCD because not only is the technology "new ground" for CMS, but also application of CAR-T therapy is expected to expand to other types of cancer beyond lymphoma. “So we want to make sure that we’re doing this appropriately, dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s. It’s just taking a little bit more time because it’s not a routine type of decision,” Verma said.

Source: Inside Health Policy
Posted 5/23/2019