The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began a reconsideration process June 16 for its National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Beta Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease.
CMS made the decision to reopen the NCD internally based on stakeholder feedback, including comments received during the process of finalizing the NCD for Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Amyloid for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. The current NCD only covers one PET amyloid-beta (Aß) scan per patient in CMS-approved studies under coverage with evidence development (CED). Current clinical study protocols involve more than one PET Aß scan per patient; as such, CMS indicated that the purpose of this NCD reconsideration is to determine if the current policy of one scan per patient per lifetime should be revised.
A public comment period associated with the reconsideration of this NCD ends July 15. The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) will work with appropriate stakeholders to submit comments. The proposed decision by CMS on this NCD is expected by Dec. 16, with the final decision to be made by March 16.
For questions on this NCD reconsideration for Beta Amyloid PET in Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, please contact Alicia Blakey, ACR Principal Economic Policy Analyst.