CMS Unveils CAR-T Proposal, with Emphasis on Patient Outcomes
“Two CAR-T therapies — Novartis’ Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) and Gilead Sciences’ Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) — are already on the market, yet their high price tags and potentially one-time administration has put pressure on CMS to figure out a way to cover these kinds of treatments.
The agency took a few steps toward that goal over the last year. In April, it agreed to reimburse hospitals about $400,000 for Yescarta and $500,000 for Kymriah through Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient medical needs for people who have certain disabilities, end-stage renal cancer or are at least 65 years old. A month later, CMS said it would conduct National Coverage Analysis for CAR-T therapies to be completed by May 17, 2019.
Still, some worry not enough is being done to tackle the reimbursement challenges these complex treatments present.”