Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate last week would improve Medicare’s local coverage determination (LCD) process, a longstanding CAP advocacy priority. The Senate bill is the companion to House legislation (H.R. 8500), which was introduced in April.
The impact: LCDs help determine Medicare coverage for many services and tests. The CAP has long advocated for reforms that ensure the process is more transparent, based on clear evidence, and informed by practicing physicians and patients.
What we’re saying: From our September 23 statement on the legislation:
“This legislation represents an important step toward improving the LCD process by strengthening transparency, increasing accountability, and creating more opportunities for stakeholder engagement. These reforms will help ensure coverage decisions are made through a fair, predictable, and evidence-based process.”
— CAP President Qihui “Jim” Zhai, MD, FCAP