CMS currently has four open NCD topics, the fourth having been opened on May 18, 2016.
Leadless Pacemakers
The newest topic is a coverage decision on leadless pacemakers. Leadless pacemakers have some advantages (they are - leadless!) but some disadvantages as well. CMS is soliciting public comments until June 17, 2016, and then will go into research mode until releasing a draft NCD around November 18, 2016.
Gender Reassignment
Another open NCD process is considering coverage for gender reassignment surgery. CMS had a negative NCD from 1981 until May 2014, when a judicial decision threw out the old noncoverage as not based on reasonable science (the actual decision here). The new NCD process was announced in December 2015, and a draft NCD will appear by June 3, 2016 (request letter here; CMS website here). Between May 2014 and a future finalization date of the in-process NCD (September 1, 2016), gender reassignment surgical coverage is at MAC discretion.
Lumbar Surgery; Hepatitis B Screening
To finish the tally of four open NCDs, an NCD for percutaneous image guided lumbar decompression is underway until a draft decision in October 2016, and an NCD on the Hepatitis B screening test coverage is underway until a draft decision in July 2016.
