The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) is encouraging the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider diagnostic end points as the basis for its coverage of beta-amyloid imaging.
MITA's plea comes after CMS' Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) determined at its January 30 meeting that there is not adequate evidence that the technology improves health outcomes. The alliance was among the advocates for beta-amyloid PET imaging at the hearing.
"The data and evidence presented to MEDCAC clearly demonstrate the clinical benefits of beta-amyloid PET imaging for patients with signs of cognitive dysfunction," Gail Rodriguez, MITA's executive director, said in a statement. "MITA urges CMS to consider diagnostic end points -- not therapeutic ones -- when reviewing the evidence and making its coverage decision."
