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II
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2689
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 30, 2014
Ms. Collins (for herself and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to specify coverage of continuous glucose
monitoring devices, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Medicare CGM Access Act of 2014.
2.
Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitoring devices
(a)
In general
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—
(1) in subsection (s)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (EE), by striking and at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (FF), by adding and; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(GG) continuous glucose monitoring devices (as defined in subsection (iii)(1)) furnished to a CGM
qualified individual (as defined in subsection (iii)(2));
; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(iii)
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device; CGM qualified individual
(1)
(A) The term continuous glucose monitoring device means a class III medical device approved by the Food and Drug Administration that continuously
monitors and trends glucose levels in body fluid.
(B) Such term applies to such medical device—
(i) as a stand-alone product;
(ii) when integrated with an insulin pump; or
(iii) as an integral component of any other medical device cleared or approved by the Food and Drug
Administration, such as artificial pancreas device systems.
(C) With respect to a continuous glucose monitoring device that is described in clause (ii) or (iii) of
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall treat an insulin pump or other
medical device that has a continuous glucose monitoring device as an
integrated or integral component as a single medical device.
(D) Such term includes components, accessories, and supplies that are necessary and related to the
operation of the class III medical device, such as sensors, transmitters,
receivers, and requisite software.
(2) The term CGM qualified individual means any of the following:
(A) An individual with Type I diabetes—
(i) who is following an intensive insulin treatment regimen that consists of 3 or more insulin
injections per day or the use of a subcutaneous insulin infusion pump;
(ii) subject to paragraph (3), whose attending physician certifies that the individual’s condition
cannot be safely and effectively managed with self-monitoring of blood
glucose; and
(iii) who—
(I) has been unable to achieve optimum glycemic control in accordance with evidence-based guidelines;
or
(II) has experienced hypoglycemia unawareness or frequent hypoglycemic episodes.
(B) An individual not described in subparagraph (A) who meets such other medical criteria as the
Secretary may specify for the furnishing of a continuous glucose
monitoring device based on available medical evidence and taking into
account any anticipated pathway to the development of artificial pancreas
device systems.
(C) An individual with diabetes who has been regularly using a continuous glucose monitoring device
before becoming entitled to, or enrolling in, part A, or enrolling in part
B, or both.
(3) For purposes of a certification by an attending physician described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), such
certification shall not be required more frequently than once every 3
years.
.
(b)
Payment
(1)
In general
Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended—
(A) by striking and before (Z); and
(B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , and (AA) with respect to
continuous glucose monitoring devices under section
1861(s)(2)(GG)), the amount paid shall be an amount equal to 80 percent of
the amount determined under the fee schedule established under section
1834(p).
(2)
Conforming amendment
Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
(p)
Fee schedule for continuous glucose monitoring devices
(1)
Establishment
(A)
In general
With respect to continuous glucose monitoring devices (as defined in section 1861(iii)(1))
furnished during a year, the amount of payment under this part for such
devices shall be determined under a fee schedule established by the
Secretary in accordance with this subsection.
(B)
Clarification of application of fee schedule to devices having CGM as an integral component
Payment shall be calculated and made under the fee schedule established under this subsection for
any insulin pump or other medical device that has a continuous glucose
monitoring device as an integrated or integral component.
(2)
Initial payment rate
(A)
In general
With respect to each distinct type of continuous glucose monitoring device, the Secretary shall
establish an initial payment rate under the fee schedule established under
this subsection for the first year, which may be a partial year, during
which payment may be made for such continuous glucose monitoring device
under this part.
(B)
Data
With respect to a continuous glucose monitoring device, the initial payment rate under subparagraph
(A) shall—
(i) reflect market rates for such device; and
(ii) take into
account the most recent available data on prices for such device.
(C)
Accounting for differences in functionalities among various CGM devices
For purposes of the initial payment rates established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
establish a new HCPCS code for each distinct type of class III medical
device cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration that
includes a continuous glucose monitoring device, such as a medical device
described in clause (ii) or (iii) of section 1861(iii)(1)(B). Such HCPCS
codes shall distinguish among the different functionalities of such
devices in a manner that reflects the classifications of the Food and Drug
Administration in clearing or approving such devices.
(3)
Updates to payment rates
With respect to each year beginning after the year, or partial year, referred to in paragraph
(2)(A)
during which an initial payment rate is established for a distinct
continuous glucose monitoring device, the Secretary shall provide for
annual updates to the payment rate under the fee schedule established
under this subsection for each such device for the preceding year by the
percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers
(United States city average) for the 12-month period ending with June of
the preceding year.
(4)
Adjustment for geographic variations
The Secretary shall provide for adjustments to the payment rates under the fee schedule established
under this subsection to take into account geographic variations in the
prices of continuous glucose monitoring devices.
.
(c)
Ensuring beneficiary access to appropriate components
Section 1847(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(a)) is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
(8)
Ensuring beneficiary access to appropriate components
(A)
In general
In carrying out the programs under this section with respect to glucose meters required for
continuous glucose monitoring devices (as defined in section 1861(iii)(1))
that are furnished to CGM qualified individuals (as defined in section
1861(iii)(2)), the Secretary shall ensure that such CGM qualified
individuals are furnished the brand of diabetic testing supplies (as
defined in subparagraph (B)) that function with such continuous glucose
monitoring devices, such as in the case where there is only one brand of
glucose meter that is compatible with a particular continuous glucose
monitoring device.
(B)
Definition
In this paragraph, the term diabetic testing supplies means glucose meters and diabetic testing strips.
.
(d)
Effective date; Rulemaking
(1)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished
on or after January 1, 2015.
(2)
Rulemaking
(A)
In general
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this paragraph referred to as the Secretary) shall implement the amendments made by this section through notice and comment rulemaking.
(B)
Consultation
As part of the rulemaking process under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with national
organizations representing individuals with diabetes, physicians with
relevant clinical expertise in endocrinology, and other relevant
stakeholders to develop clinical criteria for the determination of whether
an individual qualifies as having Type I diabetes under section
1861(iii)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(2).
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall convene a meeting of those stakeholders to develop
consensus recommendations for such clinical criteria. The Secretary shall
take such recommendations into account in implementing the amendments made
by this section.