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    MCD

    MEDCAC Meeting 3/22/2017 - Health Outcomes in Heart Failure Treatment Technology Studies

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    Expand/Collapse the Issue section Issue

    On March 22, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will convene a panel of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The MEDCAC panel will examine what health outcomes in studies for heart failure treatment technologies should be of interest to CMS.

    Given the increased focus on the need of patients for new and innovative medical products, medical technologies are receiving market authorization based on less long-term data with greater reliance upon intermediate and surrogate outcomes. As a result, assessments of medical technologies are being made with more frequent evidence gaps with respect to the clinically meaningful health outcomes for CMS beneficiaries. The MEDCAC panel will examine the growing challenges associated with the decreased level of evidence generated prior to market authorization of new and innovative technology. By voting on specific questions, and by their discussions, MEDCAC panel members will advise CMS about the ideal health outcomes in research studies of heart failure treatment technologies and appropriate follow-up duration to ensure transparency of National Coverage Analyses (NCA) and requirements under Coverage with Evidence Development (CED). MEDCAC panels do not make coverage determinations, but CMS benefits from their advice.

    Expand/Collapse the Actions Taken section Actions Taken

    January 18, 2017

    CMS posts MEDCAC meeting announcement.

    January 23, 2017

    Posted questions to MEDCAC panel

    March 16, 2017

    Posted agenda, roster and speakers list for meeting.

    Also posted presentations and written comments.

    March 21, 2017

    Additional materials sent to panel:
    1. Utility of Patient-Reported Outcome Instruments in Heart Failure. Kelkar AA, Spertus J, Pang P, Pierson RF, Cody RJ, Pina IL, Hernandez A, Butler J. JACC Heart Fail. 2016 Mar;4(3):165-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2015.10.015. Review. PMID: 26874386 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26874386
    2. Cardiovascular health: the importance of measuring patient-reported health status: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Rumsfeld JS, Alexander KP, Goff DC Jr, Graham MM, Ho PM, Masoudi FA, Moser DK, Roger VL, Slaughter MS, Smolderen KG, Spertus JA, Sullivan MD, Treat-Jacobson D, Zerwic JJ; American Heart Association Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Stroke Council. Circulation. 2013 Jun 4;127(22):2233-49. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e3182949a2e https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23648778
    3. Two articles recently accepted and in press at the Journal of the American College of Cardiology:
      http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/early/recent
      1. Reduction in Heart Failure Hospitalizations With Ambulatory Hemodynamic Monitoring Seen in Clinical Trials Is Maintained in the 'Real World'. Akshay S. Desai, Arvind Bhimaraj, Rupinder Bharmi, Rita Jermyn, Kunjan Bhatt, David Shavelle, Margaret M. Redfield, Robert Hull, Jamie A. Pelzel, Kevin Davis, Nirav Dalal, Philip B. Adamson, J. Thomas Heywood.
      2. Real World Data on Heart Failure Readmission Reduction: Real or Real Uncertain? Harlan M. Krumholz, Sanket S. Dhruva.

    March 27, 2017

    Posted scoresheet from meeting.

    May 25, 2017

    Posted minutes and transcript from meeting.


    • Webcast of meeting
    • Registration
    • Information about visiting CMS
    • Driving directions to CMS
    • Recommended hotels

    Expand/Collapse the Agenda section Agenda

    Federal Register Notice
    Agenda
    Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee
    March 22, 2017
    7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    CMS Auditorium  
     

    Rita Redberg, MD, Committee Chair
    Alan Hirsch, MD, Acting Committee Vice Chair
    Joseph Chin, MD, Deputy Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
    Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary


    7:30 – 8:00 AM   

    Registration

    8:00 – 8:15 AM

    Opening Remarks - Maria Ellis/Joseph Chin, MD/Rita Redberg, MD

    8:15 - 8:35 AM

    CMS Presentation & Voting Questions – Daniel Caños, PhD, MPH

    8:35 – 9:05 AM

    Ileana L. Piña, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Associate Chief, Academic Affairs Cardiology, Montefiore Medical Center

    9:05 – 9:35 AM

    Philip B. Adamson, MD, MSc, FACC, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Director at Abbott formerly St. Jude Medical – Representing: AdvaMed

    9:35 – 10:05 AM

    John D. Carroll, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Director, Interventional Cardiology, University of Colorado Hospital

    10:05 – 10:35 AM

    William Lawrence, MD, Associate Director, Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and Larry A. Allen, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director, Advanced Heart Failure, University of Colorado Denver

    10:35 – 10:45 AM

    BREAK

    10:45 – 11:45 AM

    Scheduled Public Comments
    (Refer to Speaker List)

    *******************************************************************************************

    Public attendees, who have contacted the executive secretary prior to the meeting, will address the panel and present information relevant to the agenda. Speakers are asked to state whether or not they have any financial involvement with manufacturers of any products being discussed or with their competitors and who funded their travel to this meeting.

    *******************************************************************************************

    11:45 – 12:00 AM

    Open Public Comments

    Public Attendees who wish to address the panel will be given that opportunity

    12:00 – 1:00 PM

    LUNCH (on your own)

    1:00 – 2:00 PM

    Questions to Presenters

    2:00 – 3:00 PM

    Initial Open Panel Discussion: Dr. Redberg

    3:00 – 4:00 PM

    Formal Remarks and Voting Questions

    The Chairperson will ask each panel member to state his or her position on the voting questions.

    4:00 – 4:20 PM

    Final Open Panel Discussion: Dr. Redberg

    4:20 – 4:30 PM

    Closing Remarks/Adjournment: Dr. Chin & Dr. Redberg

    Expand/Collapse the Minutes section Minutes

    Download minutes

    Expand/Collapse the Panel Voting Questions section Panel Voting Questions

    Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC)
    Health Outcomes in Heart Failure Treatment Technology Studies
    March 22, 2017

    On March 22, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will convene a panel of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The MEDCAC panel will examine what health outcomes in studies for heart failure treatment technologies should be of interest to CMS.

    Given the increased focus on the need of patients for new and innovative medical products, medical technologies are receiving market authorization based on less long-term data with greater reliance upon intermediate and surrogate outcomes. As a result, assessments of medical technologies are being made with more frequent evidence gaps with respect to the clinically meaningful health outcomes for CMS beneficiaries.

    The MEDCAC panel will examine the growing challenges associated with the decreased level of evidence generated prior to market authorization of new and innovative technology. By voting on specific questions, and by their discussions, MEDCAC panel members will advise CMS about the ideal health outcomes in research studies of heart failure treatment technologies and appropriate follow-up duration to ensure transparency of National Coverage Analyses (NCA) and requirements under Coverage with Evidence Development (CED). MEDCAC panels do not make coverage determinations, but CMS benefits from their advice.

    Voting Questions

    For each voting question, please use the following scale identifying your level of confidence - with a score of 1 being low or no confidence and 5 representing high confidence.

    1      —      2      —      3      —      4     —      5
    Low                   Intermediate                      High
    Confidence                                            Confidence

    1. * How confident are you that the following are standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes in research studies of heart failure treatment technologies:

      1. Heart failure hospitalization;
      2. Heart failure hospitalization or heart failure hospitalization equivalent events (i.e., outpatient IV therapy for heart failure);
      3. Total Hospitalizations?

    Discussion:

    • For each health outcome with greater than or equal to intermediate confidence (≥ 2.5), please discuss the appropriate length of follow-up post-heart failure intervention for assessing this outcome;
    • Please discuss important considerations when assessing the merits of composite outcomes in research studies of heart failure treatment technologies which include the combination of mortality, heart failure hospitalization, or heart failure hospitalization equivalent events.

    1. How confident are you that surrogate and intermediate endpoints are predictive of standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes (e.g., reduction in mitral regurgitation, cardiac remodeling, ejection fraction, or biomarkers) in clinical research studies of heart failure treatment technologies for:

      1. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction;
      2. Heart failure secondary to mitral regurgitation where the focus of therapy is mitral valve repair/ replacement;
      3. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (e.g., cardiac remodeling, ejection fraction)?

    Discussion:

    • If greater than or equal to intermediate confidence (≥ 2.5), please identify the specific surrogate or intermediate endpoints and associated disease or therapy which you believe are sufficiently predictive of meaningful health outcomes.
    • Please discuss how these intermediate and surrogate endpoints meaningfully contribute towards the evidence base for heart failure treatment technologies.
    • Please discuss important factors to consider when assessing the utility of surrogate and intermediate endpoints.

    1. How confident are you that quality of life measures [e.g., Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ):

      1. Are adequate measures which reflect the patient experience;
      2. Should be included as the standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes in research studies;
      3. Should be included as a composite standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes in research studies?

    1. How confident are you that functional assessments [e.g., 6 min walk test (6MWT), VO2max, ventilator threshold]:

      1. Are adequate measures which reflect the patient experience;
      2. Should be included as the standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes in research studies;
      3. Should be included as a composite standalone, meaningful primary health outcomes in research studies?

    Discussion:

    • Please discuss whether additional patient-reported measurement [e.g., Short Form-36 (SF-36), EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ5D)] should be considered to capture burdens associated with the heart failure therapy under study.
    • Please discuss the appropriate length of follow-up post-heart failure intervention for assessing patient-reported measurements.
    • For some studies of heart failure treatment technologies it may not be practical for patients to be blinded. Please discuss the impact of unblinded study participants on patient-reported measurements and functional assessments.
    • Please discuss how to best consider the impact of adverse events associated with heart failure technologies while balancing the potential for improvements to meaningful health outcomes.
    • Please discuss how to balance the benefits and harms of therapies which may improve near-term patient-reported health outcome assessments or clinical measurements (e.g., 6 MWT or symptoms) but may decrease length of life.

    Additional Discussion Topics:

    • Please discuss health outcomes of interest and appropriate follow-up duration in studies of technologies designed for diagnosis of acute decompensation of heart failure.
    • With the health outcomes and information that we have discussed today, how confident are you that there will there be enough accurate information provided to patients for them to make informed decisions?
    • Please discuss how studies can be designed to accurately capture patient preferences and how their preferences can best be considered and operationalized once the study has concluded.

    * CMS recognizes the importance of mortality as a meaningful primary health outcome of interest in research studies. We are seeking input on what additional outcomes should be considered.

    Expand/Collapse the Other Material section Other Material

    Transcript 1

    Expand/Collapse the Roster section Roster

    Committee Chair

    Rita Redberg, MD, MSC
    Professor of Medicine
    UCSF School of Medicine
    Division of Cardiology
    University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

    Acting Committee Vice Chair

    Alan Hirsch, MD
    Director
    Vascular Medicine
    Quality Outcomes and Population Health
    Professor of Medicine
    Epidemiology and Community Health
    Cardiovascular Division
    University of Minnesota Medical School

    MEDCAC Members

    Salvador Cruz-Flores, MD, MPH
    Professor and Founding Chairman
    Department of Neurology
    Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
    Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

    Michael J. Fisch, MD, MPH, FACP
    National Medical Director
    Medical Oncology
    AIM Specialty Health

    Fred Kobylarz MD, MPH
    Associate Professor
    Geriatric Medicine
    Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

    Marcel Salive, MD, MPH
    Medical Officer
    National Institute on Aging
    National Institute of Health

    Art Sedrakyan, MD, PhD
    Professor of Healthcare Policy and Research
    Director
    Patient-Centered Comparative Effectiveness
    MDEpiNet Science and Infrastructure Center
    Weill Cornell Medical College
    Cornell University

    Jodi B. Segal, MD, MPH
    Professor of Medicine
    Division of General Internal Medicine
    Department of Medicine
    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

    Julie Ann Swain, MD
    Vice Chair for Clinical Performance
    Director of Clinical Research
    Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    New York City
    Director, Center for Medical Devices (CMeD) at Mount Sinai Heart

    Diana Zuckerman, PhD
    President
    National Center for Health Research
    Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund

    Representatives

    Eileen Hsich, MD
    Associate Medical Director
    Cardiology Department, Heart Failure
    Heart Transplant Program
    Cleveland Clinic

    Lynne Warner Stevenson, MD
    Professor of Medicine
    Cardiovascular Division
    Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Industry Representative

    Adi Renbaum, MBA
    Principal/Owner
    ANR Consulting, LLC

    Guest Panel Members

    Elise Berliner, PhD
    Director
    Technology Assessment Program
    Center for Outcomes and Evidence
    Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

    Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, MD
    Medical Officer
    Heart Failure and Arrhythmias Branch Division of Cardiovascular Sciences
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

    Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, MACC, FAHA
    Vice Dean, Diversity & Inclusion
    Magerstadt Professor of Medicine
    Professor of Medical Social Sciences
    Chief, Division of Cardiology
    Northwestern University, Feinberg
    School of Medicine
    Associate Director
    Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
    Northwestern Memorial Hospital

    Bram Zuckerman, MD
    Director
    FDA Division of Cardiovascular Devices Office of Device Evaluation
    Center for Devices and Radiological Health

    Invited Guest Speakers

    Philip B. Adamson, MD, MSc, FACC
    Medical Director and Vice President
    Global Research and Development
    Abbott

    Larry A. Allen, MD, MHS
    Associate Professor of Medicine
    Medical Director
    Advanced Heart Failure

    John D. Carroll, MD
    Professor of Medicine
    University of Colorado School of Medicine
    Director, Interventional Cardiology
    University of Colorado Hospital

    William Lawrence, MD
    Associate Director
    Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science
    Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

    Ileana L. Piña, MD, MPH
    Professor of Medicine
    Epidemiology and Population Health
    Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    Associate Chief
    Academic Affairs Cardiology
    Montefiore Medical Center

    CMS Liaison

    Joseph Chin, MD
    Deputy Director
    Coverage and Analysis Group

    Executive Secretary

    Maria Ellis
    Coverage and Analysis Group

    Expand/Collapse the Speakers List section Speakers List

    Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee
    March 22, 2017
    SPEAKER LIST

    *7 MINUTES PER SPEAKER*
    • Clinton A. Brawner, PhD, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital – Representing: The Cardiovascular Research Foundation
    • Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, The Mary and Gordon Cain Chair & W.A. “Tex” and Deborah Moncrief, Jr., Chair, Professor of Medicine, Medicine Chief, DeBakey VA Medical Center, Director of Winters Center for HF Research, Associate Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Director of Winters Center for Heart Failure, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX – Representing: American College of Cardiology
    • Srihari S. Naidu, MD, FACP, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, Director, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program & Interventional Cardiologist, Westchester Medical Center, Associate Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Past Trustee, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), Past President, Brown University Medical School Board of Directors, Trustee, Brown University Corporation -  Representing: Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions
    • Nancy Sweitzer, MD, Sarver Heart Center Director, University of Arizona – Representing:  American Heart Association
    • Christopher M. O’Connor, MD, FACC, CEO and Executive Director, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Professor of Medicine (adj.) Duke University, Editor in Chief, JACC: Heart Failure, President-Elect, Heart Failure Society of America – Representing:  Heart Failure Society of America
    • Eran Kurman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sensible Medical Innovations Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Kurman is unable to attend the meeting.
    • Dan Schaber, PharmD, Vice President, Heart Failure Clinical Research, Medtronic plc
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