Pharmacogenomic Testing for Warfarin Response
August 19th, 2008CMS opened a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Aug. 4 to determine if the use of pharmacogenomic testing for warfarin is reasonable and necessary under the Medicare program.
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual’s genetic makeup, or genotype, affects the body’s response to drugs. According to CMS, a patient’s initial response to warfarin therapy may be influenced by a multitude of factors other than genetics and questions whether it is reasonable to base the effect on overall health outcomes attributed to treatment strategies that include pharmacogenomic testing in dosage determination.
CMS requests public comments on the effectiveness of pharmacogenomic testing for warfarin metabolism in the Medicare beneficiary population. The initial 30-day public comment period runs Aug. 4 – Sept. 3. Instructions on submitting public comments are found at the CMS Web site.
To read the full tracking sheet (CAG-00400N), go to the What’s New Report page.
Related posts:
- Comment on CMS PET Scan Expansion
- CMS Expands PET Scan Coverage
- FDG PET National Coverage Being Reconsidered
- In-Office Coumadin Coding Made Easy
- MPFS and OPPS Public Comments Lost by CMS