Submitted Comments

Items Related to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

August 7, 2018

Comments to AmeriHealth Caritas Clinical Policy on Full-body Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The Alliance submitted comments addressing the AmeriHealth Caritas Clinical Policy on Full-body Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO₂). While supportive of the need for safe and effective HBO₂ and the need for policies that minimize administrative burdens while still being easy to implement and enforce, the Alliance identified clinically inaccurate and/or unsubstantiated information within the policy to be addressed as the policy is revised.

Read the Alliance comment.

September 11, 2017

Comment on the proposed CY 2018 Physician Fee Schedule

The Alliance submitted comments to CMS on the proposed CY2017 Physician Fee Schedule. Comment focused on:

The under estimation and erroneous valuation of 2 CPT codes: CPT 29580 (Strapping of Unna Boot), and CPT 29581 (Application of multi-layer compression system).
Supporting the decision to update the equipment items and the amount of oxygen for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) so that the amount of oxygen conforms to the RUC recommended value.
Requesting national payment rate for CPT Codes 97607 and 97608 - describing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) services using a disposable device - similar to the rate proposed in the CY2018 hospital outpatient proposed rule.
In response to CMS’s request for information on flexibility and efficiency opportunities to increase care, reduce costs and reduce burdens for clinicians and patients, the Alliance asked the agency to consider reform of the process it uses to assign new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II billing codes to durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).

View Alliance Comment

September 6, 2016

Comments on the CY2017 Physician Fee Schedule

The Alliance submitted comments to CMS on its proposed Physician Fee Schedule update: "CMS-1654-P: Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2017; Medicare Advantage Pricing Data Release; Medicare Advantage and Part D Medical Low Ratio Data Release; Medicare Advantage Provider Network Requirements; Expansion of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Model." Alliance comments focused on wound care services it viewed as improperly/inaccurately valued by the fee schedule. The Alliance also called for increased transparency on how CMS will use global service data. Additional, the Alliance requested that CMS review its criteria for the expansions of the upcoming Diabetes Prevention Program model as the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP).
View Alliance Comment

August 5, 2016

Comments to Noridian Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy (DL 36686)

The Alliance submitted comments to Noridian on Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy (DL 36686). The Alliance recommended that Noridian revise the policy to recognize the implicit coverage of skin grafts and flaps and expressed concern about the policy’s wording around adjunctive treatment of the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Comments also flagged several areas in the draft policy in which Noridian provided specific dose and frequency parameters that are contrary to current standards of practice. In addition, the Alliance noted that some of the evidence that Noridian has used to substantiate the provisions in this policy is outdated.
View Alliance Comment

November 22, 2015

Submitted Comments

Items Related to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Comments to AmeriHealth Caritas Clinical Policy on Full-body Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Comment on the proposed CY 2018 Physician Fee Schedule

Comments on the CY2017 Physician Fee Schedule

Comments to Noridian Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy (DL 36686)

Comments to First Coast on LCD for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (DL36504)

Comments to Novitas Solutions Draft Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy (DL35021)

Alliance comments to Novitas Solutions for Local Coverage Determination on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Recent Comments

The Value of Wound Care