ACC recommends updated coverage for VADs

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in early March urging the agency to consider a new coverage paradigm for Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs).

CMS opened the coverage to evaluate whether to allow a second entity to credential VAD sites. The ACC took this opportunity to comment on the ambiguity of the current coverage paradigm for bridge-to-transplant and for destination therapy. Patients do not necessarily fit into those categories and often move between the two. Instead, the ACC suggested an improved model would be to cover VADs for either short- or long-term use.

View the full letter on CardioSource.org.