Earlier this week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its FY 2020 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule. In this rule, CMS finalized its proposals to create an alternative payment pathway for breakthrough medical devices and increase the NTAP payment level to 65 percent. 

These changes represent significant wins for coverage and payment of innovative medical devices and are the latest in a series of payment policy victories that are the result of our multi-year advocacy efforts. 

Key highlights of the final rule include the following:  

• Alternative NTAP Pathway for Breakthrough Devices and QIDPs 
• Change to the Calculation of the NTAP Payment Amount 
• Clarifications to the Substantial Clinical Improvement Criterion 
• New Technology Add-On Payments (NTAPs) Applications 
• Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnoses as Complications and Comorbidities
• Payment Rate Update