Aranesp coverage decision
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
D.C. federal court dismisses Amgen challenge of CMS' decision to reimburse anemia management biologic Aranesp (darbepoetin) at the same level as J&J's Procrit (epoetin) under the 2003 hospital outpatient prospective payment system final rule, released Nov. 1. In a Dec. 26 1opinion, the court determined that Amgen lacked the standing to challenge CMS from implementing certain provisions relating to Aranesp. CMS concluded the two therapies are "functionally equivalent"...