WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the Local Coverage Determination Clarification Act to aid and improve medical decisions for seniors.

“Our nation’s seniors deserve quality healthcare treatment, free from the worry that an opaque decision board could deny them a procedure based on an unknown metric,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “Unfortunately, that is not the case right now. For many procedures, doctors must seek reimbursement permission from one of the 12 local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) that are responsible for designated areas of the country. However, each MAC is independent, meaning that a procedure covered in one state may not be covered in another. This arbitrary care needs to stop, for the wellbeing of our seniors. This legislation will help improve transparency and accountability among MACs and establish a clear process so that only health experts are making expert health decisions.”

“Seniors across the country deserve to have equal access to innovative health care and certainty when it comes to the cost of procedures,” said Congressman Kind. “This legislation will take a significant step forward in ensuring fairness for our seniors.”  

Items To Note:

• There are 12 Medicare Advisory Commissions in America, each responsible for a designated area of the country.
• This bill would ensure that coverage decisions are made by qualified health experts through a transparent process that is based on sound medical evidence.