CMS Improves Access to MitraClip Therapy With Ruling

August 12, 2014 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) took action to improve access to Abbott’s MitraClip system after issuing its fiscal year 2015 ruling on the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), which includes a new technology add-on payment (NTAP) for MitraClip while maintaining MitraClip within its current diagnosis-related group (DRG) classification.

During the public comment period, several doctors and national medical societies commented on the importance of establishing adequate reimbursement for MitraClip to ensure access to the therapy.

“Approval of this new technology add-on payment recognizes the breakthrough medical innovation of MitraClip and the substantial clinical improvement this technology offers for very sick patients who have no alternative effective treatment options,” said Charles Simonton, M.D., chief medical officer, Abbott Vascular. “This decision is an important step forward in improving access to the therapy for these vulnerable patients while more appropriate hospital reimbursement for MitraClip is established.”

For more information: www.abbottvascular.com