Medical Devices Today

DoJ Targets Five Cardiac Ablation Device Makers In False Claims Probe

Full article reprinted from 'The Gray Sheet" - July 20, 2009

Medtronic, Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical and AtriCure are targeted in an ongoing Justice Department probe into alleged off-label promotion of cardiac ablation devices for atrial fibrillation. Find out more...

CMS Proposes 28 New Procedures For Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - July 13, 2009

The number of procedures performed in freestanding ambulatory surgical centers rather than general hospitals could rise next year under a July 1 CMS outpatient payment proposal. Find out more...

MRI Coverage Proposals: A 'Go' For Blood Flow, 'No' For Pacemaker Patients

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - July 6, 2009

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess heart valve disease in Medicare patients may be an easier proposition for physicians if a June 30 CMS coverage ¹ proposal is adopted. Find out more...

Preliminary Decision By CMS Keeps NPWT Devices In One Code

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - June 15, 2009

CMS is proposing to keep negative pressure wound therapy devices in one Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code, in line with recommendations from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Read more...

Medicare Denies Coverage Of CT Colonography For Cancer Screening

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - May 18, 2009

The hopes of imaging equipment and software makers, the American Cancer Society and radiologists were dashed with CMS' final decision not to cover computed tomography colonography for colorectal cancer screening. Find out more...

Prospects For 2010 New-Tech Inpatient Add-On Payments Appear Bleak

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - May 11, 2009

Each of this year's applicants for new-technology add-on Medicare payments are a long shot, CMS suggests in its proposed 2010 inpatient payment rule. Find out more...

2010 Device DRGs Stable, But Longer-Term Hospital Cuts Could Make A Mark

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - May 11, 2009

Find out how medical device manufacturers are not expected to take a direct hit from Medicare inpatient hospital payment cuts next year, but possible cuts through 2012 could start to add pressure on manufacturers.

MedPAC Study Finds Self-Referring Doctors Drive Up Imaging Use, Costs

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - April 13, 2009

Find out how Medicare patients are more likely to receive imaging services when treated by doctors who refer most patients to their own practices for imaging scans than when treated by doctors who refer most patients to practices in which they do not have a financial stake, according to a study from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.

NIH Dives Into Comparative Effectiveness Clash With Grant Opportunities

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - April 06, 2009

Find out how a 181-page grant application request from the National Institutes of Health has struck a nerve among congressional lawmakers debating the particulars of comparative-effectiveness research and comprehensive health reform.

HHS IG Urges Medicare To Crack Down On Negative Pressure Pump Payments

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - March 23, 2009

Find out how CMS will consider whether it has sufficient data to curb payments for negative pressure wound therapy pumps, the agency said in response to a March 19 report by the HHS Office of Inspector General.