Society for Vascular Surgery and American Venous Forum Invited to Present to Medicare Panel on Lower Extremity Chronic Venous Disease

CHICAGO, June 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum have been invited to present information to a panel that will address five questions from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on lower extremity chronic venous disease July 20 in Baltimore, Maryland.

According to Dr. Lowell Kabnick, president of the AVF and a member of the SVS, the presentations will address a defined set of published CMS questions focusing on "the scientific evidence underpinning the benefit and risk of existing lower extremity venous disease interventions that aim to improve health outcomes in the Medicare population."

The presentations were requested to address gaps in the evidence about how the disease is treated. The Medicare program is interested in reduction of pain, reduction in edema, improved functional capacity, improved quality of life, avoidance of acute and chronic venous thromboembolism; avoidance of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; avoidance of initial venous skin ulceration and recurrent ulceration; improvement in wound healing; reduction in all-cause mortality; and avoidance of repeat interventions and harms from the interventions.   

The two societies are among a group of professional organizations that will present information to the panel, known as the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). MEDCAC panelists will discuss the evidence they hear and vote on how to advise Medicare on coverage for lower extremity disease interventions.  While it does not set policy, MEDCAC makes recommendations to CMS regarding determinations for treatment and Medicare coverage.

Other presenters will represent a coalition that includes the Society for Interventional Radiology (SIR), American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College of Radiology (ACR), American Heart Association (AHA), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM), Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, and VIVA Physicians (Vascular Interventional Advances).

"It is important that Medicare reimburses for medically indicated interventions that are effective in decreasing disability from chronic venous disease," stated Dr. Peter Gloviczki, a past president of both SVS and AVF, "but it is equally important that physicians perform these interventions for the appropriate indications.  The MEDCAC meeting is aimed to accomplish both."

As on previous occasions, the SVS and the AVF welcome this opportunity to collaborate and provide information for MEDCAC review, noted new SVS President Dr. Ron Fairman. "We are privileged to be part of the dialogue and to be recognized for the expertise that the AVF and the SVS provide. We also welcome the opportunity to collaborate with coalitions presenting at MEDCAC and support our common vision for delivering the highest quality evidence-based care to patients."    

The July 20 MEDCAC meeting will be live-streamed. For a link, visit http://vsweb.org/MEDCACstreaming.

The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is a 5,400-member, not-for-profit professional medical society, composed primarily of specialty-trained vascular surgeons, which seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness.

The American Venous Forum (AVF)  is a 745-member, not-for-profit multidisciplinary, international medical society whose members are dedicated to saving and improving lives by reducing venous and lymphatic disease through education, innovative research and advocacy.

SOURCE Society for Vascular Surgery