Blood committee, manufacturers seek ‘emergency' pay hike for IVIG

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers understand a payment-policy dispute that could affect office-based access to IVIG and the way providers bill and get reimbursed for these products. It is especially relevant to organizations monitoring Medicare drug reimbursement, supply issues, and administrative changes affecting Part B billing.

Article Sections

1. Payment policy and emergency authority

   Discusses the Medicare and HHS framework for drug reimbursement and the circumstances under which emergency action may be considered. It also introduces the agencies and advisory bodies involved in the review.

2. IVIG billing, pricing, and supply concerns

   Summarizes the office-based billing context for IVIG, including current payment categories and broader concerns about pricing and product availability. It also describes the positions of manufacturers and physician practices on market conditions.

3. Intravenous immune globulin billing in 2003

   Presents historical billing volume and denial-rate information for IVIG-related claims and notes the relationship between older billing categories and newer reporting codes.

4. Market dynamics and CMS concerns

   Covers CMS concerns about potential market reactions to higher reimbursement and the discussion of pricing changes in the supply chain. It also touches on regional availability issues and manufacturer commitments to increase product supply.