MEDCAC Meeting 3/24/2015 - Molecular Pathology Testing to Estimate Prognosis in Cancer

3/24/2015 - Molecular Pathology Testing to Estimate Prognosis in Cancer
Posted minutes and transcript from meeting
http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/medcac-meeting-details.aspx?MEDCACId=69

On March 24, 2015, CMS will convene a panel of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The MEDCAC panel will consider the evidence about molecular pathology tests that estimate the prognosis of several frequently encountered types of cancer, including:

Adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum;
Invasive breast cancer; and
Non-small cell lung cancer.

Outcomes of interest to CMS include both beneficial and harmful outcomes experienced by patients from anti-tumor treatment decisions based on results of tests estimating cancer prognosis. Such outcomes may include, among others: mortality/survival; quality of life; and avoiding harms of anti-cancer treatment. Results of a technology assessment of such tests will be presented.

By voting on specific questions, and by their discussions, MEDCAC panel members will advise CMS about the extent to which it may wish to use existing evidence as the basis for any future determinations about coverage for tests that estimate cancer prognosis. MEDCAC panels do not make coverage determinations, but CMS often benefits from their advice.