Bill Introduced to Place Moratorium on CMS’ LCD Lower Limb Proposal

On April 25, Representative Ellmers (R-NC-02) introduced HR 5045: Preserving Access to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016.  The bill is “to impose a moratorium on the implementation of a proposed Medicare local coverage determination on lower limb prostheses”.  The bill places a moratorium until June 30, 2017 on implementing the July 16, 2015 Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Lower Limb Prostheses (DL33787).  The bill also would require that CMS and it contractors remove the policy from their websites, which is necessary because private payors (United Health Care and Cigna) have been adopting provisions included in the LCD.  This bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Blackburn (R-TN-7) and Schakowsy (D-IL-9). This bill will be discussed during the Policy Forum, where AOPA members will request that their representatives become a co-sponsor.