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Article: Washington Roundup CMS to Seek Payment Advice on ESAs in Kidney Patients.
- Article from:
- BIOWORLD Today
- Article date:
- August 24, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 A Thomson Healthcare Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Donna Young, Washington Editor
WASHINGTON -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to convene an advisory panel next March to provide input on establishing a national coverage decision (NCD) for the use of anemia drugs, such as Amgen Inc.'s Epogen (epoetin alfa) and Centocor Ortho Biotech Product LP's Procrit (epoetin alfa), in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Medicare currently does not have an NCD for the use of the anemia drugs, known as erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), in patients with kidney disease.
Anemia is prevalent in CKD patients and is more common as the disease worsens. ESAs are used ...