In response to CMS reopening its national coverage determination to address its germline testing policy, stakeholders point out areas of concern and confusion.
CMS had received significant stakeholder feedback that germline NGS testing is not the same as somatic testing, and that the NCD as written would negatively impact patients.
In a letter to CMS, AMP made a case for crosswalking existing CPT codes for BRCA1/2 testing to codes that more accurately reflect the work required to analyze these genes.
An Oregon Health Authority committee issued a draft guidance to not cover NGS testing for solid tumors, which advocacy groups say will limit access to Medicaid beneficiaries.
A private payor survey by ClearView Healthcare Partners found that medical directors viewed CMS's decision with caution; half had no plans to align commercial plan coverage.
A perspective that hasn't gotten as much attention is that the CMS draft coverage decision could be bad for patients by increasing off-label drug use based on the results of NGS panels.
Some industry players are accusing CMS of advancing backdoor LDT regulation by proposing to cover NGS tests with FDA approval/clearance, except in a limited setting.
