National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet

Liver Transplantation for Malignancies

CAG-00091N

Issue

Medicare presently excludes coverage of liver transplantation for patients with malignancies. Previous analysis indicated that long-term survival for liver transplants performed on patients with malignancies was significantly lower than for other indications. There is now a body of medical literature that examines liver transplantation as treatment of some liver cancers in carefully selected patients. We are analyzing this literature to see if it supports revising the current policy on liver transplantation.

National Coverage Determinations

Benefit Category

Inpatient Hospital Services
Physicians' Services

Requestor Information

Requestor Name Requestor Letter
Internally generated request N/A
N/A

Important Dates

Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated
02/13/2001
Expected NCA Completion Date
05/14/2001
Public Comment Period
03/15/2001 - 04/13/2001
Proposed Decision Memo Due Date
Proposed Decision Memo Released
Proposed Decision Memo Public Comment Period
Decision Memo Released
05/21/2001

Contacts

Lead Analysts
Jackie Sheridan-Moore
Lead Medical Officers
Madeline Ulrich, M.D.

Medicare Benefit Category Determination Date

Actions Taken

February 20, 2001

Posted notice of request on website.

May 21, 2001

Posted Decision Memorandum for hepatocellular carcinoma on the website.

May 21, 2001

Made a formal request for Technology Assessment to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for evaluation of liver transplantation for malignancies other than hepatocellular carcinoma.