by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 9, 2024 | SAWC
Join me for this special event at SAWC! Here’s what you need to know: Advanced Wound Care Insights and Market TrendsDate: Tuesday, May 14th, 2024Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM ETLocation: Magnolia Rooms 13-14, Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Drive,...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 8, 2024 | Fight the Good Fight
If you are attending the SAWC Spring 2024 Conference next week, come listen to Dr. Marissa Carter and I discuss, “Why are all My Chronic Wound Patients so SICK?” The session is Wednesday May 15, from 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Eastern, in Crystal K. In the session, we...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 7, 2024 | Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
CMS recently announced that the Total Per Capita Cost (TPCC) cost measure is now open for comment. CMS (through its contractor, Acumen) is gathering comments on the TPCC measure to determine updates to the measure’s attribution methodology (“attribution” is the...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 3, 2024 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m angry about what appears to be a pattern of overuse and abuse in the Cellular Tissue Product (CTP) / skin substitute industry. In fact, just writing that sentence, I realize my mood is changing. Who wouldn’t be angry about...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 2, 2024 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes
I got this letter today and have redacted all the identifiers. I’d like to know what people think… Dr. Fife, I am the manager of a hospital-based outpatient wound department (HOPD). We are part of a large healthcare system, and in speaking to my counterparts at...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 30, 2024 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes, Healthcare Payment Policy
On April 25, ALL 8 CMS Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) released proposed LCD/LCAs for Skin Substitutes/CTPs for DFUs and VLUs. I have already mentioned the fact that the proposed policy sets a limit of 4 CTP applications per year (although additional...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 29, 2024 | Fight the Good Fight
I worry a lot about the relationship between obesity and chronic wounds. Obesity is linked to diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. It causes a chronic inflammatory state, it often leads to lymphedema, and it is often associated with chronic leg dependency due to chair...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 26, 2024 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes
Yesterday morning, 8 MACs issued nearly identical draft coverage policies for the use of CTPs (“skin subs”) in diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. (Note that the policy does not apply to pressure ulcers/injuries). In addition to the exhaustive documentation...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 22, 2024 | Fight the Good Fight, Miscellaneous Musings
The AMA has a very useful series called “What doctors wish patients knew about…“ The most recent one is about a condition called “misphonia.” This is a condition in which seemingly innocuous sounds can trigger an intense (and seemingly out of proportion)...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Apr 15, 2024 | Fight the Good Fight, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced plans to test prior authorization (PA) for 40 services related to blepharoplasty, botulinum toxin injections, rhinoplasty, panniculectomy, and vein ablation performed in Ambulatory Surgical...
