National Coverage Analysis (NCA) View Public Comments

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Public Comments

Commenter Comment Information
McGlothlin, Anita Title: Health Policy Administrator
Organization: ACR
Date: 07/30/2009
Comment:

July 30, 2009

Ross Brechner, MD, MS, MPH
Medical Officer
Coverage and Analysis Group
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244

RE: CAG 00399R (Proposed Decision Memo for Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College of Radiology (ACR), North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI) and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), are pleased to

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Thompson, Bob Title: Sr. Director, Reimbursement, Econ & Health Policy
Date: 07/30/2009
Comment:

July 30, 2009

Louis Jacques, MD
Director, Division of Items and Devices
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Coverage and Analysis Group
7500 Security Blvd.
Mail Stop C1-09-06
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: Proposed Decision Memo for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (CAG-00399R) to revise the Contraindication for Cardiac Pacemakers (Section 220.2 of the Medicare NCD

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Brooks, Mollie Organization: Mayo Clinic
Date: 07/30/2009
Comment:

July 30, 2009

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 8017
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-8017

Attention: Tamara Syrek Jensen, JD
Acting Director, Coverage and Analysis Group

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Decision Memo for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (CAG-00399R).

The following comments are offered for your consideration on behalf of the Mayo Clinic MRI/Pacemaker

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Bocchino, Carmella Title: EVP, Clinical Affairs and Strategic Planning
Organization: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Date: 07/29/2009
Comment:

July 30, 2009

Tamara Syrek Jensen, JD
Acting Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Mail Stop C1-09-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Dear Ms. Syrek Jensen:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS's) proposed national coverage determination (NCD) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (CAG-00399R). America's

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Schuman, Ilyse Title: Managing Director
Organization: Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance
Date: 07/29/2009
Comment:

July 30, 2009

Tamara Syrek Jensen
Acting Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Mailstop: C1-09-06
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: Proposed Decision Memorandum for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (CAG-00399R)

Dear Ms. Jensen:

The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of the National

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Sharma. MD, FACC, Arjun Title: Vice President, Patient Safety Cardiac Rhythm Man
Organization: Boston Scientific Corporation
Date: 07/27/2009
Comment:

July 28, 2009

Louis Jacques, MD
Director, Division of Items and Devices
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Coverage and Analysis Group
7500 Security Blvd.
Mail Stop C1-09-06
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: Proposed Decision of the National Coverage Determination (NCD) of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (CAG-00399R)

Dear Dr. Jacques:

Boston Scientific

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Tejani MD, FACC, Furqan Title: Director, Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging
Organization: Long Island college Hospital
Date: 07/06/2009
Comment:

The premise of not covering MRI in face of a pacemaker/ Defibrillator, denies an important test that is often the final diagnostic test in the list of non-diagnostic tests. Not only does the MRI have the capability of assessing the structure but also the function and flow. The vascular disease that is prevalent in medicare beneficiaries that also have cardiac, cerebrovascular and renal disease. A non-contrast MRI sometimes lends more to the diagnosis than a contrast CT that also involv

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Wolff, M.D., Ph.D., Steven Title: Assistant Professor of Radiology and Medicine
Organization: Columbia University
Date: 07/01/2009
Comment:

Implanted pacemakers and defibrillators were once thought to be an absolute contraindication for MRI. However, the peer reviewed literature now contains data from multiple centers, demonstrating that MRI has been safely performed in hundreds of these patients without serious adverse event.

In fact, I can add a case from my own personal experience. I recently performed a brain MRI on a woman with a pacemaker who had a recurrent pituitary tumor which was documented by rising blood hormone

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