See the CMS webpage here and look for "Test Codes and Payment Determinations" and then 2018 CLFS Gapfill Preliminary Determinations (zip file containing XLS). Direct zip file link should be: here (unless they update it again).
- The AGENDA the CMS CLFS June 25 new codes has also been posted, with 32 agenda items (speakers); here. Note that while I am listed the agenda here, the New Codes Meeting agenda is basically unrelated to the gap fill proposals.
Note that the first version of the gapfill pricing spreadsheet had errors; see a version dated June 13 or later.
Gapfill prices for 17 codes range from $24 to $2030, but almost all are below $1000.
CMS accepts public comment for 60 days (to August 7), submit comments to Glenn McGuirk at CMS; his email is on the CMS webpage. CMS then transmits these public comments to its MACs, who return revised prices to CMS in August, which are posted by CMS in early September. There is a rather vaguely defined internal appeal process for 30 days (no public meetings are held); CMS posts final prices by mid November which sometimes vary from the September prices due to this final appeal process.
Longest Journey. The code with probably the longest journey is 81327 SEPT9, which was in the new code crosswalk process in CY2016, the appeal process in CY2017, and is now in the gapfill process throughout CY2018.
Most Illogical. The most illogical pricing is probably Genome or Comparator Genome at $349, which must be substantially below real world costs. For those who can dodge the various firewalls, see a very favorable current article in Washington Post on genome testing for acutely ill children, here. CMS prices Exome at $4900.
A couple comments from me:
- No Rationale. CMS stated in PAMA rulemaking that it would begin providing MACs' "rationales" for prices. No sign of that publication yet.
- Median of MACs? PAMA regulations state that CMS shall calculate medians of "MACs," but rather than listing the circa ten modern MACs, it lists the historical 57 CLFS pricing zones from the 1970s.
- MolDx Bloc. All the MOLDX MACs price together for all codes (Noridian, WPS, CGS, Palmetto and Palmetto/Former Cahaba), except for one code that might be a typo.
- This MolDx "Bloc" of states or MACs is large enough to drive the median.
- All Prices Match MolDX Price. All median prices matched the MolDx bloc price.
Nerd View
I checked for cases where there was a proposal from any MAC that is lower than the Median. This occurs for 81327 (where most bids are around $150 or $190), and for 81471, 81470, 0001U, where at least one MAC offered 20-50% less than others. See the "min" and "max" columns in the table below. Gapfill proposals:
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| click to enlarge |
Agenda for New Code June 25 New Codes Meeting (this is entirely different than the gapfill table above):
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| click to enlarge |
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Appendix.
Social Security Act 1834A(c)(2-4) requires CMS to post rationale for any gapfill or crosswalk price. See also 81 FR 41086, 6/23/2016.
(2) Gapfilling process described.— The gapfilling process described in this paragraph shall take into account the following sources of information to determine gapfill amounts, if available:
(A) Charges for the test and routine discounts to charges. (B) Resources required to perform the test. (C) Payment amounts determined by other payors. (D) Charges, payment amounts, and resources required for other tests that may be comparable or otherwise relevant. (E) Other criteria the Secretary determines appropriate.
(3) Additional consideration.— In determining the payment amount under crosswalking or gapfilling processes under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider recommendations from the [advisory] panel established under subsection (f)(1).
(4) Explanation of payment rates.—In the case of a clinical diagnostic laboratory test for which payment is made under this subsection, the Secretary shall make available to the public an explanation of the payment rate for the test, including an explanation of how the criteria described in paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) are applied.
