WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The American Association of Tissue Banks, McLean, Virginia, and American Association of Tissue Banks' Tissue Policy Group have voiced its concerns in a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding proposed changes to the payment structure for skin substitutes under the Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems. AATB, a leading national organization representing over 125 accredited tissue banks, e more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The American Medical Group Association has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding proposed changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, specifically addressing the implications of the agency's proposed rule for the Calendar Year 2026 Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center Prospective Payment System. Founded in 1950, AMGA represents multispecialty medical groups and integrated healthcare systems. The organi more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The American Osteopathic Association has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), expressing concerns over the proposed changes to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System for calendar year 2026. The association, which represents almost 200,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students, emphasizes the need to ensure high-quality patient care whil more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The Association for Accessible Medicines and its Biosimilars Council has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) addressing concerns over proposed changes affecting hospital outpatient payment systems and biosimilar pricing policies. AAM, representing manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medications, highlights the potential impact of these changes on patient access to low-cost medicines. In its letter, AAM emphasized  more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas has officially submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), expressing strong opposition to proposed changes in hospital payment systems. The letter, dated August 18, outlines the organization's concerns regarding two major proposals: an accelerated clawback of funds and a drug acquisition cost survey. The organization argues that CMS's plan to expedite the clawback of funds from calendar ye more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Bracco Diagnostics has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), requesting the reassignment of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 76978 and 76979 related to non-cardiac contrast enhanced ultrasound procedures. The company argues that these codes should be moved from Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) 5571 to APC 5572 to better reflect the clinical and cost characteristics of these procedures. Bracco, a global more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Engineered Tissue Solutions, Rolla, Missouri, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning the proposed changes to the reimbursement structure for skin substitute products under the Physician Fee Schedule and the Outpatient Prospective Payment System for calendar year 2026. The organization commended CMS for its ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and promote equitable reimbursement while addressing rising heal more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Ashley N. Elsebough, Director of EyeSouth Partners, Atlanta, Georgia, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting grave concerns about a proposed reduction in facility fees for cataract surgeries. Elsebough contends that the proposed "cost-of-living" update fails to accurately reflect the operational realities faced by Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), which cater to a large population of Medicare beneficiaries more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- HealthyWomen, Red Bank, New Jersey, has issued a public comment letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The organization has provided insights and recommendations regarding recent processes and vaccine considerations by the committee. In the letter, HealthyWomen expressed several concerns surrounding the current operational methods of the ACIP. The organization emphasized the need for grea more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), addressing potential changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems proposed rule for calendar year 2026. The Mayo Clinic, a renowned healthcare provider, is committed to high-quality patient care and innovation, serving approximately 1.3 million patients annually from across the globe. In more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- NeuroPace, Mountain View, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urging the agency to reassign the payment classification for CPT code 61891, linked to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system for CY 2026. The request comes as NeuroPace highlights the critical role of its RNS System, a device designed to treat drug-resistant epilepsy by delivering real-time, personalized therapy to reduce or elimin more ST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Rayner Surgical Group, West Sussex, United Kingdom, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), advocating for the continuation of separate payment policies for FDA-approved non-opioid pain relief products. This move comes in light of the upcoming expiration of a statutory directive that currently mandates these separate payments through the end of calendar year 2027. Rayner, a manufacturer of ophthalmic medical products i more ST