Weekly Policy Update: Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries and Medical Device Tax Work
By: Colorado BioScience Association Date: 12/06/2018
A recent proposal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would implement an unprecedented Part B demo that could harm Medicare beneficiaries. We believe this would alter the entire reimbursement structure for providers in Part B and ultimately restrict access and limit drug options ultimately effecting the patient and physician. Further, the proposal could significantly impact the Part B program which will affect drugs that are directly administered by doctors and treat a broad range of serious and critical diseases like cancers and other rare or chronic illnesses. These changes can and will have a serious impact on patients’ quality of life. They will also affect the access to care on which so many seniors and individuals with disabilities depend.
For more information please read the recent letter that the Colorado Bioscience Association recently signed onto expressing the coalition’s concerns. We will continue to advocate and express our concern to Congress and the CO Delegation.
This week CBSA also signed onto a multi-stakeholder letter calling for the full and permanent repeal of the medical device tax. The letter includes more than 140 organizations. CBSA continues to express our priority to repeal the medical device excise tax to the CO Delegation.
To read the letter click here.
Be sure to also check out the following:
- Healthcare Leadership Circle posted a blog post calling for repeal of the device and health insurance taxes.
- Newt Gingrich authored an op-ed on repeal that ran yesterday in STAT News.