Medicare Bonus Payments: CMS Plans To End Three, But Considers Seven New-Tech Add-On Payments For FY 2019

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it plans to stop new technology add-on payments for two minimally invasive prosthetic aortic valves and an endoprosthesis device for peripheral aneurysms in its recently-released inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule. Meanwhile, the agency is considering whether to add the bonus payments for seven other devices, including a stroke-protection device for transcatheter aortic valve procedures, a nerve stimulator to treat sleep apnea patients, and a nanotechnology-based interbody device used to treat patients with degenerative disk disease, among others. But none of them appear to be a sure thing based on comments in the proposed rule.

The table below summarizes FY 2018 new-tech add-on payments CMS proposed to end as of Sept. 30.