National Coverage Analysis (NCA) View Public Comments

Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

Public Comments

Commenter Comment Information
Rayburn, Jack Title: Senior Government Relations Manger
Organization: Trust for America's Health
Date: 02/28/2015
Comment:

Please find below our comments on this NCA. A PDF copy of a formatted version of these comments is available. Please email me at jrayburn@tfah.org or contact me at (202) 223-9870 x 28 for a full copy.

February 27, 2015

Stuart Caplan RN, MAS
Lead Analyst
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Mail Stop C1-09-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850

Re: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Analysis

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McLaughlin, John Title: Director, Policy & Alliance Development
Organization: Quest Diagnostics
Date: 02/27/2015
Comment:

Quest Diagnostics is a national supplier to Medicare of high quality clinical laboratory tests. As such, we are impacted by CMS’ proposal to expand coverage of the existing HIV Infection screening Medicare benefit. We are pleased to submit comments to CMS' Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R) for CMS consideration.

Quest Diagnostics applauds CMS for increasing the reach of its current HIV screening program by

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Schmid, Carl Title: Deputy Executive Director
Organization: The AIDS Institute-on behalf of HIV Testing Reimbursement Group
Date: 02/26/2015
Comment:

HIV Testing Reimbursement Workgroup
A subcommittee of the HIV Health Care Access Working Group
(Affiliated with the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership)

February 26, 2015

Stuart Caplan
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: National Coverage Determination – Proposed Decision Memorandum for Screening for HIV Infection

Dear Mr.

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Bocchino, Carmella Title: Executive Vice President
Organization: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Date: 02/26/2015
Comment:

RE: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R)

Dear Mr. Caplan:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R). America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national association for the health insurance

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Maril, Robin Organization: Human Rights Campaign
Date: 02/26/2015
Comment:

February 26, 2015

Stuart Caplan
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: National Coverage Determination – Proposed Decision Memorandum for Screening for HIV Infection

Dear Mr. Caplan:

On behalf of the Human Rights Campaign’s more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide, I write in response to the proposed expansion of Medicare coverage

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Anderson, Denise Title: Program Manager, HIV Prevention Services
Organization: Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School
Date: 02/26/2015
Comment:
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) is pleased that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to cover routine HIV testing for its beneficiaries. NJMS has been offering and providing HIV testing for many years. At the end of 2014, NJMS received the On the Frontlines of Communities in the United States (FOCUS) award by Gilead Sciences, Inc. to implement routine HIV screening in the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital (UH) in Newark, NJ as per the

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Wilson, Nonda Organization: College of American Pathologists
Date: 02/25/2015
Comment:

The College of American Pathologists (CAP), which represents more than 18,000 pathologists who practice anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine in laboratories worldwide, supports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid proposal to update its national coverage policy for routing testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection.

Routine testing for adolescents and adults without regard to perceived risk is an important strategy for helping more people know their status

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McClain, Angelo Title: Chief Executive Officer
Organization: National Association of Social Workers
Date: 02/24/2015
Comment:

Re: Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Dear Ms. Tamara Syrek Jensen, Dr. Joseph Chin, Ms. Lori Ashby, Dr. James Rollins, Mr. Stuart Caplan, and Dr. Susan Miller:

I am writing on behalf of the 132,000 members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the United States. NASW

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Buitron, Michael Title: Linkage to Care Project Coordinator
Organization: St. Mary Medical Center
Date: 02/23/2015
Comment:

February 23, 2015

Stuart Caplan
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244

Re: National Coverage Determination – Proposed Decision Memorandum for Screening for HIV Infection

Dear Mr. Caplan,

I would like to provide comments on the proposed expansion of Medicare coverage for HIV screening. I support the proposal to update the National Coverage

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Yao, Dr. Joseph Title: Associate Professor, College of Medicine
Organization: Mayo Clinic
Date: 02/23/2015
Comment:

February 23, 2015

Joseph Chin, MD, Director
Tamara Syrek Jensen, JD, Director
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244

RE: Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R)

Dear Dr. Chin and Ms. Syrek Jensen,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed decision memo for screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

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Adimora, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Adaora Title: Chair, HIVMA Board of Directors
Organization: The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA)
Date: 02/20/2015
Comment:

February 20, 2015

Submitted Electronically via: CAGinquiries@cms.hhs.gov

Mr. Stuart Caplan
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244

Subject: Proposed Decision Memo for Screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (CAG-00409R)

Dear Mr. Caplan:

The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) is pleased to comment in support of

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Parker, Scott Organization: Western NC Community Health Services
Date: 02/19/2015
Comment:
I support yearly HIV screening for Medicare beneficiaries. Thank you.
Blackwelder, MD, FAAFP, Reid B. Title: Board Chair
Organization: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Date: 02/18/2015
Comment:

February 18, 2015

Marilyn Tavenner
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201

RE: Proposed decision memo for screening for the HIV infection (CAG-00409R)

Dear Administrator Tavenner:

On behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), which represents 115,900 family physicians and medical students across the country, I write in response to the proposed decision

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Weiss, Michael Title: Program Services Coordinator
Organization: Humboldt County DHHS - North Coast AIDS Project
Date: 02/05/2015
Comment:

I support the proposed decission to include HIV screening in clinic lab testing.

This is so important for early dection which will help stop the risk of transmission to new people. HIV is highly infectious in the beginning stages of infection when a person does not know their status and are not on medications. Most new infections happen at this time.

Barry, Elizabaeth J Date: 01/30/2015
Comment:
Why use Medicare money that is supposed to be earmarked for the elderly to test people in the teens, 20's, 30's and 40's. We keep using Meidiare money for every propram under the sun then we wonder if there will be money for our elderly. The medicare fund has become a "slush" fund for the government and I for one that has been paying since I was 16 is not thrilled that it is being used that way. More people should be ticked off this is happening.
Earl, CCS-P, Darlene Title: Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based
Organization: AHIMA
Date: 01/30/2015
Comment:
I have worked in healthcare since 1968. I was working in a Family Practice group when we saw our first HIV positive patient. To watch the cruel advancement of this dreadful disease was horrific to say the least. I was then lucky to later work with Providers who took on these special patients and work for a longer, somewhat better life span and rally for studies and funding to curb and treat this terribly devastating disease. Knowing that this virus may lay dormant in most individuals, it is

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