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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) sent a bipartisan letter with U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to urge CMS to streamline the Medicare coverage process to help ensure Medicare beneficiaries can gain timely access to emerging and innovative technologies that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The members encourage CMS to accomplish this by issuing Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) proposed rule before then end of 2022.

“We are writing to encourage the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) proposed rule by the end of 2022.  Following repeal of the Medicare Coverage for Innovative Technology (MCIT) rule last year, CMS has expressed repeated commitment for establishing a pathway to facilitate Medicare beneficiary access to innovative and emerging medical technologies. While we remain concerned that the repeal of MCIT may hinder patient access to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved breakthrough treatments, we commend the agency for its continued commitment to this important policy goal and appreciate inclusion of this rule in the 2023 Unified Regulatory Agenda,” the members wrote.

“We firmly believe a successful implementation of a TCET rule should include an independent transitional coverage pathway for breakthrough devices that have been proven safe and effective by the FDA. Such a process will meaningfully improve the Medicare coverage process for emerging technologies and will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries, especially those in rural and medically underserved communities, can access the innovative treatments they need once they become available. To that end, we respectfully urge you to move quickly to help improve the lives of the many Medicare beneficiaries who stand to gain from timely access to emerging and innovative technologies by issuing the TCET proposed rule by the end of 2022,” the members continued in the letter

Click HERE to read the full letter.

In November 2021, Guthrie led a bipartisan letter to CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure after CMS made the decision to repeal the Medicare Coverage for Innovative Technology (MCIT) rule. Guthrie and his colleagues expressed disappointment in that decision and encouraged CMS to keep vital components of the MCIT rule to help Medicare beneficiaries access innovative medical devices.

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