CMS Archives

Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition Letter to Congress on CMS Limited Coverage for Newly Approved Alzheimer’s Drugs

February 27, 2023: NCHR urges Congress to support the decision by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to limit the coverage of newly approved Alzheimer’s
drugs until the treatments have been shown to have a meaningful, clinical benefit that outweighs
the risks for the Medicare population.

Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition Letter to CMS on Lecanemab Approval

January 6, 2023: We applaud your National Coverage Determination that made the wise decision to limit coverage of this class of drugs solely to patients participating in clinical trials following the approval of aducanamab (Aduhelm) by the FDA. The FDA approved Biogen and Eisai’s lecanemab today, and we urge you to hold firm to your decision to prioritize patient safety and the scientific credibility of CMS’s coverage decisions.

Comment Regarding AHRQ’s Analysis of Requirements for Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) – Topic Refinement

September 28, 2022: NCHR support AHRQ’s overall report and recommendations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to update their CED requirements.

NCHR Comments on the CMS National Coverage Analysis of Seat Extenders for Wheelchairs

September 14, 2022: We strongly support the coverage of wheelchair seat extender systems through Medicare and encourage CMS quickly act on this decision. There are numerous direct medical benefits from the use of power seat elevation systems in power wheelchairs. Many preventable complications and secondary conditions are common among individuals who spend long periods of time unable to stand or walk, restricted to a bed, chair, or wheelchair.

NCHR Comments on Broadening Coverage for Cochlear Implants

August 4, 2022. We agree that cochlear implants have been shown to improve sentence recognition, thus helping affected adults communicate better and reducing feelings of isolation. However, there are several issues that we strongly urge CMS to consider before deciding whether to broaden the national coverage.