Medicare technology coverage rule put on hold by HCFA; reg to issue as reproposal.
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
MEDICARE TECHNOLOGY COVERAGE RULE PUT ON HOLD BY HCFA in response to criticism from Congress and industry on the initiative. Health Care Financing Administration Chief Bruce Vladeck has put development of the regulation -- which would have finalized a 1989 proposal describing how HCFA determines whether specific health services are covered by Medicare -- on the back burner. HCFA also has decided that when it does publish the rule, it will be in the form of a reproposal rather than a final rule. The agency does not have a target date for publication.