Gore applauds CMS reclassification of Endovascular Abdominal Aneurysm Repairs

W.L. Gore & Associates gave kudos to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its decision to reclassify endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair as a new Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group classification, which will result in a rise in hospital reimbursement for the treatment.

Gore spent the past two years conducting a data analysis with the goal of improving alignment of payment and cost of the procedure.

Under the new classification, the reimbursement base rate for non-complex procedures will receive a payment increase of about 15 percent, while complex procedures will see a rise of about 24 percent.

The new classification takes effect on Oct. 1 and will apply to minimally invasive catheter based interventions used for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. — Michael Cipriano