ASHA Update: Medicare Delays September 1 Speech-Generating Device Policies
Contact your members of Congress before Monday, August 25 and ask them to sign on to a letter addressing all of the policies limiting SGD access: Help Protect SGD Access for Medicare Patients.
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) Contractor announced that they are delaying the policies from the “Coverage Reminder” that requires speech-generating devices (SGDs) to undergo product approval and reclassification. Additionally, the announcement indicated that any recent reclassifications of SGD products are rescinded until the code verification of all SGD products is completed.
This policy change followed a collaborative advocacy effort to CMS among ASHA members, SGD manufacturers, and patient advocate organizations.
Background
In February, the Medicare contractors that administer Durable Medical Equipment (DME) claims issued a “Coverage Reminder” that prohibits SGDs from having any non-speech capabilities (e.g., e-mail, Internet, environmental control) or the ability to upgrade in the future at the patient’s own expense. Manufacturers were instructed to redesign their products and remove non-speech generating device technology. Additionally, manufacturers had until early June 2014 to complete the redesign and apply for approval, or beginning September 1, 2014, their devices would no longer be considered a CMS benefit.
The delay of the September 1, 2014, deadline allows further action by stakeholders and Congress to advocate for permanent changes.
Contact your members of Congress before Monday, August 25 and ask them to sign on to a letter addressing all of the policies limiting SGD access: Help Protect SGD Access for Medicare Patients.
ASHA Resource
For more information on SGD issues, please contact Lisa Satterfield, ASHA’s director of health care regulatory advocacy, at lsatterfield@asha.org, or Ingrida Lusis, ASHA’s director of federal and political advocacy, at ilusis@asha.org.
