The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) periodically changes coverage rules for items and/or services. These changes are communicated through National Coverage Determinations (NCD) or Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) updates.
For more information, see Medicare's NCD or LCD index. Or you can call the Customer Care Center at 1-877-232-7566 (TTY: 711).
The following list summarizes the most recent NCD updates:
• CMS retroactive effective date: May 25, 2017
• CMS implementation date: July 2, 2018
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after May 25, 2017, CMS will cover SET when criteria is met.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 20.35.
• CMS retroactive effective date: March 16, 2018
• CMS implementation date: March 9, 2019
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after March 16, 2018, CMS will cover Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) as a diagnostic laboratory test when criteria is met.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 90.2.
• CMS retroactive effective date: Feb. 15, 2018
• CMS implementation date: Feb. 26, 2019
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after Feb. 15, 2018, CMS will cover ICDs for the certain patient indications.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 20.4.
• CMS retroactive effective date: Sept. 28, 2016
• CMS implementation date: Jan. 2, 2018
Effective for dates of service on or after Sept. 28, 2016, screening for HBV infection will be covered when criteria is met.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 210.6.
• CMS retroactive effective date: Dec. 7, 2016
• CMS implementation date: June 27, 2017
Effective for dates of service on or after Dec. 7, 2016, Medicare will cover PILD under Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) for beneficiaries with LSS who are enrolled in a CMS-approved prospective longitudinal study.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 150.13.
Effective with dates of service Jan. 18, 2017, CMS will cover leadless pacemakers through Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) when procedures are performed in CMS-approved CED studies.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 20.8.4.
Effective with dates of service 09/28/2016, CMS has determined that screening for HBV infection will be covered with the appropriate U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved/cleared laboratory tests, used consistent with FDA-approved labeling and in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) regulations.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 210.6.
Effective with dates of service 02/08/2016, CMS will cover Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) through Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) when LAAC is furnished in patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrilation (NVAF) and according to an FDA approved indication for percutaneous LAAC with an FDA-approved device.
For complete National Coverage Determination information, see NCD 20.34.