CMS Medicare Cuts for Cardiac Devices Won't Fly (This Time)

The proosal by CMS to reduce by up to 30% the reimbursement to hospitals for cardiac devices arises from a compelling need to reduce the clearly high costs associated with these devices (stents, defibrillators, etc.). Given the size of the proposed cuts, however, and their impact on device makers and hospitals, their negative reaction (see Boston Globe) was anything but surprising. The reality is twofold: the proposal will get scaled back moderately to significantly before a final rule, likely in October, and this CMS proposal is only the first shot fired in a volley regarding device costs. As I noted in my publisher's letter in the April MedMarkets, device manufacturers and healthcare systems alike have to recognize that the writing is on the wall.