Proponents praise radiopharmaceutical reimbursement overhaul, with caveats

July 30, 2008 Proponents praise radiopharmaceutical reimbursement overhaul, with caveats H. A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bexxar and Zevalin have become the poster children of inadequate reimbursement for radiopharmaceuticals. Despite recent Congressional action to freeze their payment rates until January 2010, advocates for these radioimmunotherapic agents say more should be done to support the application of these clinically valuable but extremely expensive drugs. The SNM and industry representatives lauded Congress for the June 15 passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The new law repealed a 10.6% cut in Medicare fees to physicians and included an 18-month extension of the 2007 reimbursement rates for radiopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of cancer and other types of life-threatening diseases. It also sent a powerful message about the need to ensure quality care to critically ill patients, said SNM President Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D.

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