TAKE ACTION NOW: MEDICARE IS ABOUT TO SET STANDARDS FOR MYELOFIBROSIS RELATED STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS

On October 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposedrule allowing Medicare coverage for stem cell transplants in approved clinical trials for Myelofibrosis (MF) patients. Unfortunately, some of the requirements in the proposed rule would actually decrease access to stem cell transplants.  

View the proposed decision memo by CMS

Here's How You Can Help  

The CMS is currently taking comments on the proposed rule. Use the link to send a brief message to CMS to ask that they revise their proposed study parameters to ensure that the clinical studies make stem cell transplant an option for all MPN patients. 

Click here to view comments submitted on the CMS Public Comments Page.

 

We need the transplant, biomedical and lay community to share their comments with CMS. CMS is accepting comments on their proposal for 30 days only; the comment period closes on November 28, 2015.  Comments can be very brief and still be impactful.  An example might look as follows:

 

• I appreciate that CMS is trying to provide coverage for Medicare beneficiaries with Myelofibrosis.
• I encourage CMS to consider removing the requirement for concurrent controls in these clinical studies because it will limit a Medicare beneficiary's ability to access this important therapy. 

Use your own words as much as possible, and

• Be brief
• Be personal
• Tell them exactly what you want:  to ensure that stem cell transplants are an option for ALL MPN patients.

 

The Deadline for comments is November 28, 2015