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Senator Kerry pushes seniors’ access to diagnostic
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Senator Kerry pushes seniors’ access to diagnostic tests
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) recently
introduced legislation that would help millions of Medicare patients access the diagnostic tests that could save their lives and reduce health care costs.
The Medicare Patient Access to Preventative Diagnostic Test Act streamlines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly HCFA) review of new diagnostic tests for Medicare patients and would establish a transparent and reliable reimbursement process for Medicare payments.
"America is home to the best technology and most innovative medical tests that save lives by detecting diseases from cancer to heart and kidney failure at their earliest possible stages, but too many citizens don’t have access to these critical services because bureaucracy stands in the way," said Senator Kerry. "There is no excuse for letting bureaucracy and outdated reimbursement procedures deny our senior citizens modern medical technology. Orrin Hatch and I are going to pass this bill to guarantee access to these life-saving medical technologies by ensuring that there is a fair, reasonable reimbursement process so that doctors can detect diseases and health problems at the earliest, most treatable stages."
The Medicare Patient Access to Preventative and Diagnostic Test Act would: implement a single fee schedule for new and current diagnostic tests and provide a mechanism for regular updates; establish an open, transparent public process for incorporating new tests; develop principled methodologies for setting fair and appropriate payment levels for new tests; and provide a mechanism for stakeholders (beneficiaries, laboratories, manufacturers, etc.) to challenge fee schedule decisions.
Companion legislation was recently introduced in the House by Representatives Dunn, McDermott, Ehrlich, and Ramstad.