Medical associations create united front to reduce barriers to noninvasive ventilation
July 30, 2021
On July 30, 2021, the journal CHEST® electronically published the outcomes and recommendations of a technical expert panel (TEP) on optimal noninvasive ventilation (NIV), conducted by the American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST), the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS).
The CHEST Heath Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC) undertook this effort in response to the ongoing and growing concern that lifesaving equipment is being denied payment because of rigid criteria in local coverage determinations and that the existing coverage provided by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is not reflective of rapidly evolving technology in the field. In an effort to remove these regulatory barriers and support coverage of necessary medical equipment, CHEST initiated a patient-focused advocacy initiative for respiratory care called the Optimal NIV Medicare Access Promotion (ONMAP).
“CMS was wanting rigorous scientific support necessary to clarify the ‘reasonable and necessary’ role of these new mechanical therapeutic modalities where there was none in order to move forward,” said Peter C. Gay, MD, MS, FCCP, Chair of the Technical Expert Panel and HPAC committee member. “What we have done is create a pathway to simplify the maze of regulation and perhaps most importantly, remove the obstacles that currently exist.”
The TEP was held virtually October 3-4, 2020, and welcomed participants from various areas of medicine. In addition to TEP experts, the meeting was attended by patient advocacy groups, industry partners, durable medical equipment providers and a member of CMS. During the meeting, a small number of invitees were granted 10 minutes each to present their perspective on the current National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and related policies. TEP members then drafted the resulting commentary and conclusions from the meeting without any external influence or communication.
The published reports will support a formal request for review of the CMS coverage determinations for the delivery of NIV therapy to Medicare beneficiaries. The five focus areas are designed to enable access to improved treatment for people suffering from a broad range of disorders, including (1) thoracic restrictive disorders, (2) COPD, (3) central sleep apnea, (4) hypoventilation syndromes and (5) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
“We were able to gather the top experts in all of these fields who could summarize the best evidence. And, more importantly, we identified ways that current coverage was hindering the ability to get the right device to the right patient at the right time,” said Robert Owens, MD, Co-Chair of the Technical Expert Panel.
Patients who are paired with the right medical device experience a better quality of life and better management of their condition. These patients are often medically fragile, so timing and streamlined approvals are critical.
CHEST, along with the partnering organizations, will file a formal NCD reconsideration for improved NIV access in each of the five focus areas. If deemed necessary, the rules governing the reconsideration process include an opportunity for public comment.
“We encourage all involved parties to read the published journal reports and be prepared to advocate for these necessary changes. For this to be successful, we need the support of the membership of each of the organizations, representatives from patient advocacy groups and all of the clinicians whose patients are impacted by the present restrictions to access to durable medical equipment,” said Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, President of CHEST.
The following links will direct you to the full report and recommendations published in the CHEST journal.
ONMAP Executive Summary
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education, communication and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians, and its flagship journal CHEST®, visit
chestnet.org.
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health to improve lives. The AASM has a combined membership of 11,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals.
About the AARC
Founded in 1947, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. We encourage and promote professional excellence, advance the science and practice of respiratory care, and advocate for patients, their families, the public, the profession, and the respiratory therapist. Supporting more than 40,000 members worldwide, the AARC is a not-for-profit professional association headquartered in Irving, TX. Learn more about us at www.aarc.org.
About the American Thoracic Society
Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is a leading global medical association dedicated to advancing pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The Society’s nearly 17,000 members prevent and fight respiratory disease around the globe through research, education, patient care, and advocacy. The ATS publishes four journals, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, and ATS Scholar.