CMS plans not to expand BioZ coverage
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
CMS proposes Aug. 24 to leave coverage of transthoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) treatment for drug-resistant hypertension at the discretion of local contractors. Although a majority of the 214 comments made during the initial 30-day public comment period supported CardioDynamics' request that coverage for its BioZ TEB system be expanded to all patients with hypertension, CMS argues that no new scientific evidence was submitted (1"The Gray Sheet" April 10, 2006, In Brief). CardioDynamics cited a study in the June 6 Journal of the American College of Cardiology showing the near-term heart failure predictive power of its BioZ impedance cardiography technology (2"The Gray Sheet" June 12, 2006, In Brief). Comments on the proposal are due Sept. 23, with a final decision expected in November...