National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

CAG-00089R2

Issue

CMS has internally generated a reconsideration to withdraw the current national coverage determination (NCD) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008 has provided coverage for cardiac rehabilitation (CR). To implement CR coverage provisions from MIPPA, CMS added, §410.49, Cardiac rehabilitation program and intensive cardiac rehabilitation program: Conditions of coverage, to the Public Health Code of Federal Regulations (42 C.F.R.). This section was added through rule making in the CY 2010 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule with Comment Period, which was finalized and put on display Friday October 30, 2009 (available at http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx#special). The Final Rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2009.

Because coverage for CR programs has been established through rule making, there will no longer be a need for this NCD. Should CMS determine in the future that evidence supports coverage of additional indications, we will use the national coverage analysis (NCA) process to evaluate evidence and make a coverage determination as appropriate.

Benefit Category

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

Requestor Information

Requestor Name Requestor Letter
Internally generated N/A
N/A

Important Dates

Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated
11/25/2009
Expected NCA Completion Date
02/23/2010
Public Comment Period
11/25/2009 - 12/25/2009
Proposed Decision Memo Due Date
Proposed Decision Memo Released
11/25/2009
Proposed Decision Memo Public Comment Period
11/25/2009 - 12/25/2009
Decision Memo Released
02/22/2010
Comments for this NCA
View Public Comments

Contacts

Lead Analysts
Sarah Fulton, MHS
Lead Medical Officers
Joseph Chin, MD
Irwin Lotwin, MD

Medicare Benefit Category Determination Date

Actions Taken

November 25, 2009

Internally generated NCA. Proposed decision memorandum posted.

30-day public comment period begins. We are requesting comments on our proposed decision memorandum to withdraw the NCD for cardiac rehabilitation programs.

February 22, 2010

Final decision memorandum posted.