National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet

Liver Transplants in Non-approved Centers During the Emergency in Houston (Amendment)

CAG-00120R

Issue

Medicare presently covers liver transplants only in approved centers. Severe tropical rain storms in the Houston area has forced closure of the only three hospitals in the Houston metropolitan area that perform liver. All three hospitals are estimated to remain closed for the next 1 to 4 months. The President has declared Harris County and a number of surrounding counties a Federal disaster area.

One of the hospitals, Memorial Hermann Hospital, is prepared to move its entire liver transplant teams to affiliated hospitals in the Houston area to perform transplants during this period. On June 15, 2001, we granted emergency coverage to Memorial Hermann-Memorial City Hospital, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital for liver transplants on a temporary basis given the above circumstances until Memorial Hermann. These hospitals are presently full due to the acceptance of patients from various closed Houston hospitals. We are considering adding M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to those hospitals that we have granted emergency coverage for liver transplantation.

National Coverage Determinations

Benefit Category

Inpatient Hospital Services
Physicians' Services

Requestor Information

Requestor Name Requestor Letter
Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas N/A
N/A

Important Dates

Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated
06/22/2001
Expected NCA Completion Date
06/25/2001
Public Comment Period
06/22/2001 - 07/23/2001
Proposed Decision Memo Due Date
Proposed Decision Memo Released
Proposed Decision Memo Public Comment Period
Decision Memo Released
06/25/2001

Contacts

Lead Analysts
Jackie Sheridan-Moore
Lead Medical Officers

Medicare Benefit Category Determination Date

Actions Taken

June 22, 2001

Posted acceptance of NCD request on the Internet.

June 25, 2001

Posted Decision Memorandum  on the Internet.