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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet for Actinic Keratoses (CAG-00049N)

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Actinic keratoses are pre-cancerous skin lesions that occur primarily on sun-exposed skin surfaces. We were initally asked to consider developing a national coverage decision for the treatment of actinic keratoses because of inconsistencies that exist through local medical policies implemented by several different Medicare contractors throughout the country.
Physicians' Services
Requestor Name(s):  Richard Scher, M.D., President, American Academy of Dermatology
Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated:  12/08/1999
Expected NCA Completion Date:  07/09/2001
Public Comment Period:  01/07/2000 - 02/07/2000
Decision Memo Released:  07/19/2001
Lead Analyst(s): 
  • Perry Bridger
December 22, 1999 Formal request accepted for review.
December 22, 1999 Letter sent to Darrell S. Rigel, M.D., President, that we accepted the formal request to develop a national coverage policy.
January 12, 2000 Met with the American Academy of Dermatology and we are awaiting receipt of additional information. See Meeting Report [PDF, 26KB].
March 17, 2000 Communication received from the American Academy of Dermatology requesting that we temporarily put this formal request on hold. We have agreed to suspend our development of a national coverage policy for the treatment of actinic keratoses at this time.
June 6, 2000 Received a letter from the American Academy of Dermatology requesting that we re-open their formal request.
August 15, 2000 Notified the American Academy of Dermatology that we have requested a technology assessment from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
March 16, 2001 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), was notified by AHRQ that the final version of the technology assessment would not be received from the Oregon Health Sciences University Evidence-based Practice Center until May 8, 2001.
May 8, 2001 Received Technology Assessment  from AHRQ. CMS has 60 days to issue a coverage decision. New due date will be July 9, 2001.
May 29, 2001 Met with the American Academy of Dermatology.
July 19, 2001 Decision made. Please see Decision Memorandum.
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