UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Urges CMS to Reconsider Rule Limiting Access to PET Scans

Washington, D.C. (July 15, 2022) – UsAgainstAlzheimer’s chair and co-founder George Vradenburg submitted public comment to Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) urging the agency to reconsider their National Coverage Determination (NCD) and provide coverage without CED for the FDA-approved use of amyloid-beta PET scan.

In the letter submitted Friday, Vradenburg wrote, “People with dementia deserve a definitive diagnosis and monitoring just like people with other diseases. CMS must change its coverage determination to make that possible…NCD 220.6.20 (finalized in 2013) covers one PET amyloid-beta (Aß) scan per patient, and only for the small numbers enrolled in CMS-approved studies under coverage with evidence development (CED). UsA2 remains strongly opposed to this policy, and we applaud CMS for finally opening this new NCD analysis.

“The restrictions on the use of this tool impedes the timely and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and giving patients, caregivers, and clinicians the information necessary to develop an appropriate course of treatment…We request that CMS reconsider this NCD and provide coverage without CED for the FDA-approved use of an Aß PET scan.”

Full public comment can be viewed here.

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About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan - for everyone