Coding: Medicare Coverage of MIGS
Date: March 1, 2024
A recent policy reversal for MIGS coverage by several Medicare Administrative Contractors raised questions about what’s next.
In 2023, 5 Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) — WPS, CGS, NGS, Noridian, and Palmetto — developed new, controversial and restrictive local coverage determination (LCD) policies for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). In December, they announced they “… will not become final and therefore have been removed from the Medicare Coverage Database. Accordingly, at this time there will be no change in the current status of coverage for MIGS.” Many ophthalmologists, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and manufacturers are relieved but express concern about what’s next.