Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services opens in new window
CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Main header

  • About Us
  • Newsroom
  • Data & Research
Newsroom

Newsroom_Navigation

  • Press Kit
  • Data
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Podcast

 

 

 

Press release

MEDICARE EXPANDS COVERAGE FOR TREATING FACIAL LIPODYSTROPHY SYNDROME IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV


Mar 23, 2010
  • Coverage
  • Prescription drugs

Share

opens in new window opens in new window opens in new window
MEDICARE EXPANDS COVERAGE FOR TREATING FACIAL LIPODYSTROPHY SYNDROME IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

 

             The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced its decision to cover facial injections for Medicare beneficiaries who experience symptoms of depression due to the stigmatizing appearance of severely hollowed cheeks resulting from the drug treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  Today’s decision is effective immediately.

 

             Facial lipodystrophy (LDS) is a localized loss of fat from the face, causing an excessively thin appearance in the cheeks.  In some cases, facial LDS may be a side effect of certain kinds of medications (antiretroviral therapies) that individuals receive as part of an HIV infection treatment regimen. 

 

               The facial LDS can leave people living with HIV looking gaunt and seriously ill, which may stigmatize them as part of their HIV-infection status.  Individuals who take these medications and experience facial LDS side effects may suffer psychological effects related to a negative self-image.  These effects may lead people living with HIV to discontinue their antiretroviral therapies.  The new decision allows for treatment of individuals who experience symptoms of depression due to the appearance changes from facial LDS. 

 

The injections included in today’s coverage decision are “fillers” that have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to be injected under the skin in the face to help fill out its appearance specifically for treatment of facial LDS.  Data show that these injections can improve patient self-image, relieve symptoms of depression, and may lead to improved compliance with anti-HIV treatment.

 

             “Today’s decision marks an important milestone in Medicare’s coverage for HIV-infection therapies,” said Barry M. Straube, M.D., CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Agency’s Office of Clinical Standards & Quality.  “Helping people living with HIV improve their self-image and comply with anti-HIV treatment can lead to better quality of life and, ultimately, improve the quality of care that beneficiaries receive.”

 

             The final decision is posted on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?id=234

 

  • Previous
  • Next

Related Releases

  • 2021 Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace Coverage Starts on HealthCare.gov Monday, February 15
    Feb 12, 2021
  • El Período de Inscripción Especial para la Cobertura del Mercado de Seguros Médicos Comienza en HealthCare.gov y CuidadodeSalud.gov el Lunes 15 de Febrero
    Feb 12, 2021
  • CMS unleashes innovation to ensure our nation’s seniors have access to the latest advancements
    Jan 12, 2021
  • Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (CMS-3372-F)
    Jan 12, 2021
  • CMS Proposes Updates to Coverage Policy for Autologous Blood-Derived Products for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds
    Dec 21, 2020

Contact us

CMS News and Media Group
Catherine Howden, Director
Brian Leshak, Deputy Director
Jason Tross, Deputy Director

Media Inquiries Form
202-690-6145

Get email updates

Sign up to get the latest information about your choice of CMS topics in your inbox. Also, you can decide how often you want to get updates.

CMS & HHS WEBSITES

  • Medicare.govopens in new window
  • Medicaid.govopens in new window
  • InsureKidsNow.govopens in new window
  • HealthCare.govopens in new window
  • HHS.govopens in new window

HELPFUL LINKS

  • Acronyms
  • Archive
  • Contacts
  • Glossary
  • Privacy policy
  • Privacy settings

RSS FEEDS

  • Newsroom
  • Blog
  • Podcast
U.S. Department of Health & Human Servicesopens in new window Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicesopens in new window

A federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244

opens in new window opens in new window opens in new window

TOOLS

  • Web policiesopens in new window
  • Plain languageopens in new window
  • No Fear Actopens in new window
  • Freedom of Information Actopens in new window
  • Inspector Generalopens in new window