Medicare Talking About Cutting Back On CI Reimbursement

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2002 10:30:02 -0400
From: Ruth Ilean Fox

Urgent Responses Requested-

Medicare proposes to reduce the cochlear implant reimbursement by 21%- from $19,279 to $15,137. CMS ("Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services") is accepting comments concerning the proposed
cochlear implant reimbursement for the 2003 fiscal year.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") published CMS-1206-P that includes an adjustment of Medicare's payments for cochlear implantation in the fiscal year 2003. The proposed payment per claim is $15,137 from the present payment of $19,279.89. The proposed payment constitutes a reduction of 21%. The proposed reduction for cochlear implantation for Medicare beneficiaries could have a repercussive effect since hospitals may limit or refuse to accept Medicare patients who qualify for cochlear implantation.

Project Hope 2000 issued a study that showed 54% of the people with severe to profound hearing loss are over 65 years of age. Yet, manufacturer device registration databases indicated that only 17% of the people over the age of 65 received a cochlear implant.

A Lewin Group report indicated that the median fixed cost for cochlear
implantation paid under APC study is $25,060 which is 65.5% higher than the proposed reimbursement rate from CMS.

CMS is accepting comments pertaining to the proposed reduction for cochlear implantation. You are to submit your comment by October 1 to:

Mr. Tom Scully, Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dept. of Health & Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Rm. 445-G
Washington, DC 20201
ATTN: CMS-1206-P

It is important that Administrator Scully receives your comments. If you
have personal story about how the cochlear implant has improved your life, then you should share it in your comments.

Bryan Reynolds
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
Information Systems Manager
3417 Volta PL NW
Washington DC 20007
(202) 337-5220 Ext 115 Voice
(202) 337-5221 TTY
(202 337-8314 FAX
BReynolds@agbell.org