CMS Delays "Implementation" of NGS NCD until April 8, 2018

CMS has updated its "implementation date" for the NCD on NGS testing in cancer patients.   The NCD has triggered a lot of confusion regarding its application to germline testing - see the backstory here.

Confusingly, NCDs are "effective" on the day they are published, but contractors develop "implementation" rules and instructions over months - in this case, over a year.  (See here).

The "effective" date remains March 16, 2018, but the brand new "implementation" date is April 8, 2019.

• See Transmittal 214 here.

CMS also indicates that it knows stakeholders are confused and upset and it is working on the issue.