by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 2, 2023 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes, Fight the Good Fight
I know there is widespread celebration over the fact that 3 MACs have rescinded their Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for CTPs/skin subs. There’s no question that there were a LOT of problems with those LCDs. However, the MACs are attempting to manage bad...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 4, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule for the 2023 Physician Fee schedule CMS IS NOT finalizing the payment approach outlined in the proposed rule in which they proposed to make Cellular and/or tissue-based products (CPTs) part...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Sep 14, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
Check out the newest article about CMS NEWS in Today’s Wound Clinic – “Could Proposed Policy Changes in the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Increase Amputations and Infections in Patients With Wounds?” by Marcia Nusgart, RPh. The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders is...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 10, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
I’ve previously posted information about the sweeping changes to office-based payment of Cellular and/or Tissue-Based Products (CTPs) recently proposed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Office-based physicians will no longer be separately...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 3, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy, Tales of the Medicare Disadvantaged
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information seeking public comment on the Medicare Advantage program. The goal of this program was described as, “more equitable, high quality, and person-centered care that is affordable...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 22, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Fight the Good Fight, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
I will probably get a lot of unhappy messages about this post, but given the sweeping changes that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed for cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs), it might be time to “say the quiet part out loud.”...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 14, 2022 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy
The 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1770-P) went on display late afternoon July 7, 2023. The proposed rule involves sweeping changes to the way that cellular and/or tissue based products for skin wounds (CTPs) are paid for in the physician office setting....
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | May 6, 2021 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight
Dear Manufacturer of Cellular and/or Tissue-based Products (CTPs) — commonly known as “skin substitutes”: I feel compelled to explain the math of using CTPs in the hospital-based outpatient department (HOPD). A friend who is a podiatrist just told me about the...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 15, 2020 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Dr. Marissa Carter, Fight the Good Fight
Here’s a fascinating perspective on the cost effectiveness of CTPs by Marissa Carter, PhD, who is a well known researcher in the field of wound care. She’s also authored several informative blogs about the origins of COVID-19 and the challenges of developing a...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 20, 2020 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
I feel like I should start this blog like the beginning of Star Wars, “Long ago, in a galaxy far away…“ Back in 2013, when insurance was less complicated, the US Wound Registry provided data for a medical student project under the supervision of Dr. Adelaide...