NH Physicians Needed for Medicare Advisory Committee (MAC)
Have you ever felt frustrated that Medicare doesn’t cover a particular service or item, but was unsure about how to go about making it better? If so, please read on…
The Medicare program requires their administrative contractors to have an advisory committee composed of subject matter experts to assist in the development of local coverage determinations (LCDs). What is a LCD? These are guidance documents created by a MAC that determine whether a particular item or service is covered and reimbursed, and about 70% of all coverage determinations are decided at the local/regional level (as opposed to nationally). Therefore, robust physician representation is essential to ensure an unbiased and contemporary review of the wide variety of LCDs.
I recently reached out to our region’s MAC to see what medical specialties do not currently have NH physician representation, and the list is, unfortunately, longer than expected:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Lab
- Family Practice
- Gastroenterology
- Gerontology
- Infectious Disease
- Internal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgery
If you’re upset that your specialty is one of those listed above and would be personally willing to help ensure fair representation for your profession, please reach out to me. I can help provide you with more information if interested. In the coming months, I’ll try to compile a list of interested persons, and will then work with state/regional specialty societies to have these positions filled.
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Thanks very much for your consideration!
Eric Loo, MD
NHMS President