SEE CMS Correction of Email Address for Submissions:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-24934.pdf
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For many years, CMS has had an official standing advisory committee for coverage decisions and evidence called the MEDCAC - Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee.
It has its own webpage, here. See the Index of Meetings, here.
On October 21, 2019, CMS published a Federal Register announcement that it is seeking new members of the committee. See 84 Fed Reg 56193-4, here. The deadline is 30 days (November 18).
MEDCAC consists of a "pool" of 100 members, including 90 standing members (10 of this 90 are patient advocates) and 10 industry members. Membership is designed to span medical specialties as well as public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, economics and ethics. 25 positions expire in 6/2020, the open slots being 2 industry representatives, 5 patient advocates, and 18 at-large professionals. Candidates serve 2-year terms.
MEDCAC Rare?
Unlike FDA advisory panels, MEDCAC panels at CMS are rare. Recent year tallies include:
2019: Zero so far.
2018: Two (TAVR and CAR-T)
2017: Two (Heart failure treatment; Bariatric surgery)
2016: Two (Treatment resistant depression; Lower extremity venous disease)
2015: Two (Molecular tests for cancer prognosis; Lower extremity arterial disease)
In earlier years, meetings were more frequent, e.g. 5 in 2010 and 5 in 2009.
