Attention to Murray:
Murray, would you know where we stand with DBS OHIP coverage in CANADA?
Emily
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda J Herman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 6:13 AM
Subject: Medicare coverage of DBS for Parkinson's


> Hi all,
>
> A nationwide Medicare coverage decision for bilateral deep brain
> stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for treatment of
Parkinson's
>  is currently pending in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services
> (CMS). The request for a decision was initiated by Dr. Barry Green,
who
> some of you may also know as editor of Parkinsonian People newspaper.
If
> CMS issues a nationwide Medicare coverage decision for DBS, it would
> become binding on all Medicare carriers, throughout the country.
> Currently about 50% of the states have a state-wide coverage policy.
In
> the others Medicare coverage is decided on a case by case basis.
>
> For more information  and background see -
www.grassrootsconnection.com
>
> The next steps in the process:
>
> 1. On  June 12, 2002 the Medical and Surgical Panel  of  the Medicare
> Coverage Advisory Committee  (MCAC)  will meet in Baltimore to "
discuss
> the quality of evidence regarding the use of deep brain stimulation
for
> the treatment of Parkinson's disease."
> (See notice of meeting  below)
>
> 2. The panel will provide their advice and  recommendations to the
MCAC
> Execuctive Committee, which will review and consider the panel's
> recommendations at its next meeting. The Committee will then advise
the
> Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on whether adequate
> evidence exists to determine if  DBS treatment for Parkinson's is
> reasonable and necessary under Medicare law.
>
> 3.CMS will them make the final Coverage Decision.
>
> The following meeting notice  about the June 12th panel meeting
appeared
> in the Federal Register : April 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 81)]
> [Notices] [ Page 20801-20802]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
> Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
> [CMS-3097-N]
> Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medical and Surgical Procedures
> Panel of the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee--June 12, 2002
> AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
> ACTION: Notice of meeting.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
>
> SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medical and
> Surgical Procedures Panel (the Panel) of the Medicare Coverage
Advisory
> Committee (the Committee). The Panel provides advice and
> recommendations to the Committee about clinical issues. The Committee
> advises us on whether adequate evidence exists to determine whether
> specific medical items and services are reasonable and necessary under
> Medicare law. The panel will discuss the quality of evidence regarding
> the use of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson's
> disease. In addition, the panel will make recommendations concerning
> the issues presented. Notice of this meeting is given under the
Federal
> Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2)).
>
> DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting announced in this notice will
> be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2002, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., E.D.T.
>
>  Deadline for Presentations and Comments: May 31, 2002, 5 p.m., E.D.T.
> Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are
> hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires
special
> assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify the Executive
> Secretary,
>
> [[Page 20802]]
> CMS Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, by May 24, 2002 (see FOR
> FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
>
> ADDRESSES: The Meeting: The meeting will be held at the Baltimore
> Convention Center, Room 337-338, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD
> 21201.
>
> Presentations and Comments: Submit formal presentations and written
> comments to:
> Michelle Atkinson, Executive Secretary,
> CMS Office of Clinical Standards and Quality at telephone number (410)
> 786-2881,
> or
> e-mail address [log in to unmask],
> or via regular mail at:
> Office of  Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare &
> Medicaid
> Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-09-06, Baltimore,
> Maryland 21244
>
> Hotline: You may access current information about this meeting on
> the CMS Advisory Committee Information Hotline, 1-877-449-5659 (toll
> free) or in the Baltimore area (410) 786-9379.
>
> FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Atkinson, (410) 786-2881,
> [log in to unmask]
>
> II. Meeting Format
>
>     This meeting is open to the public. The Panel will hear oral
> presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. The Panel
> may limit the number and duration of oral presentations to the time
> available.
>
> If you wish to make formal presentations, you must notify
> the Executive Secretary named in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
> section, and submit the following by the Deadline for Presentations
and
> Comments date listed in the DATES section of this notice: a brief
> statement addressing the general nature of the evidence or arguments
> you wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed participants,
> and an estimate of time required to make the presentation. A written
> copy of your presentation must be provided to each Panel member before
> offering your public comments. We will request that you disclose at
the
> meeting whether or not you have any financial involvement with
> manufacturers of any items or services being discussed (or with their
> competitors).
>
> The Panel will deliberate openly about the issues discussed after
> public and CMS presentations. Interested persons may observe the
> deliberations, but the Panel will not hear further comments during
this
> time except at the request of the chairperson.
>
>  The Panel will also allow a 15-minute unscheduled open public session
> for attendees to
> address issues specific to the topic.
>
> At the conclusion of the day, the members will vote and the Panel will
> make its recommendation.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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