Last month, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) submitted detailed comments to Noridian Healthcare Solutions, a Medicare contractor, regarding the unintended consequences and patient access implications to reductions in healthcare reimbursement for CyberKnife, robotic radiosurgery/stereotactic body radiation. In response to LCA’s comment letter and other stakeholder feedback, Noridian modified their policy changes, minimizing reimbursement cuts significantly.

Noridian, which covers Medicare patients in American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Northern Mariana Islands, had scheduled reimbursement cuts as high as 60% to take effect starting January 2019. On July 19, 2018, following the receipt of LCA’s comment letter, Noridian confirmed postponement of a second round of cuts indefinitely. Although some reductions will remain, the most significant and burdensome reductions were cancelled.

LCA continues to advocate on behalf of the lung cancer community to ensure access to quality care, early detection preventive services and the latest research and treatment advances.