Following initial comments (Dec. 2018) addressing Noridian’s local coverage articles A56155 and A56156 on "Amniotic Membrane-Derived Skin Substitutes” and an initial response from Noridian, the Alliance sent a follow-on letter in February 2019. The letter requests withdrawal of the policy and outlines why ithe Alliance believes that Noridian followed improper procedure. “The Coverage Articles made substantive changes to reduce Medicare coverage but did not follow CMS’s rules for changing coverage and are not a substitute for an LCD. They improperly attempt to achieve the same goal as an LCD because they state comprehensively that the use of amniotic membrane derived skin substitutes for treatment of any condition other than a DSU or VSU is 'not reasonable and necessary and non-covered.' These Coverage Articles also are not a clarification of an existing policy or CMS regulation already in effect, as is the case with other Coverage Articles. Rather, the Coverage Articles created a new substantive standard for Medicare coverage."

The Alliance will be meeting with Noridian in March to further discuss this issue.

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