WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 16, 2021)—AdvaMed, a global trade association for medical technology manufacturers, released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Whitaker on the Biden administration’s proposal to fully repeal the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technologies (MCIT) rule that would have allowed immediate access to “breakthrough” technologies, as designated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for Medicare patients suffering from debilitating illnesses and conditions that existing treatments and technologies are unable to address:
“It’s unfortunate for patients across the country that the administration has decided to reject a rule to allow Medicare patients immediate access to breakthrough medical innovations. Any Medicare patient and their doctor who has exhausted all existing medical options should have immediate access to FDA-approved breakthrough medical technologies. That’s what this is all about. Doctors and patients should be trusted to make the right medical decision to treat a life-threatening condition. The federal government should incentivize access to these new breakthrough technologies. Repealing MCIT is the wrong decision for countless Medicare patients, and it’s the wrong decision for American medical innovation. Our goal in this country should be to spur and not inhibit innovation that will change patients’ lives. We will continue to make this important case with the Administration and Congress, and we are hopeful they will make the right decision.”
Under the rule the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed to repeal, Medicare would have provided immediate national coverage for four years for any new device or diagnostic designated as a “breakthrough” technology and deemed safe and effective by FDA. During that four-year coverage period, manufacturers could continue to provide the additional data needed to maintain coverage after the four-year coverage period expired. Under this rule, if the FDA approved a breakthrough technology, Medicare would have quickly covered it, ensuring immediate national coverage of devices for seniors in need of lifesaving treatments. MCIT ensures the safety and efficacy of breakthrough technologies: After receiving an FDA breakthrough designation, these technologies would still undergo the rigorous FDA review process – the global gold standard for medical safety and effectiveness – to achieve approval.
An op-ed by Whitaker on behalf of the MCIT rule can be found here, and an op-ed by Dr. Anand Shah, an oncologist and former deputy commissioner at the FDA and former chief medical officer at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation on behalf of the rule can be found here.
