The recent House Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations report has important news highlighting continued momentum in Congress to improve patient access to innovative medical imaging technologies and evidencing that AdvaMed’s messaging and advocacy initiatives are resonating in Congress.
Let’s dig into the report.
Algorithm Based Health Services (ABHS)
On page 143, the House Committee highlights Algorithm Based Health Services (ABHS), stating, “algorithm-based healthcare services are provided through medical devices cleared by the FDA that rely on artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other similar software to produce quantitative and/or qualitative clinical information for use in the diagnosis or treatment of a patient’s condition.” The Committee encouraged CMS to ensure a stable and consistent payment pathway to support patient access to these services.
The Committee’s report follows a recent bipartisan Senate letter and a patient sign-on letter to Congress advocating that CMS consider policies that will create predictability for ABHS in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). Unfortunately, CMS’ proposed HOPPS rule was silent on an ABHS payment pathway. AdvaMed will continue working with lawmakers to urge CMS to heed Congress’ advice and begin their work to create payment pathway for ABHS that offers patients access to AI-enabled medical devices.
Focused Ultrasound
The Labor-HHS appropriations report also contains good news for patients and innovators of focused ultrasound medical devices. Focused ultrasound is noninvasive, non-pharmacological, therapeutic technology to treat serious medical disorders including prostate cancer, essential tremor, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and pain.
On page 116 of the report, the Committee requests coordination across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to drive further research into focused ultrasound applications. The report comes as AdvaMed recently brought together patients, physicians, and innovators, including the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Profound Medical and Acoustic, for a day of educational meetings on Capitol Hill with lawmakers and staff to further educate Congress about the value of focused ultrasound technologies. AdvaMed extends our gratitude to our colleagues at Insightec, Sonoblate, and FocalOne for their support in making this patient fly-in a success. We especially thank Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (FL-25) for her leadership in Congress supporting patient access to focused ultrasound technologies.
It is vital Congress continues to hear directly for those whose lives are changed by the profound value focused ultrasound, and other medical technologies, bring to patient care.
AdvaMed also thanks the House Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee for its work and commitment to improve patient access to innovative medical devices.
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