Medicare Durable Medical Equipment: Class III Devices Do Not Warrant a Distinct Annual Payment Update
Published: 2006-03-01T00:00:00

Fast Facts:

Highlights:
section_title: Why GAO Did This Study
paragraphs: Medicare fee schedule payments for durable medical equipment (DME) that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates as class III devices, those that pose the greatest potential risk, increased by 215 percent from 2001 through 2004. From 2004 through 2006, and for 2008, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) provided for a payment update for class III DME equal to the increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U). For 2007, MMA requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine the payment update. MMA also requires that other DME receive a 0 percent update from 2004 through 2008. MMA directed GAO to report on an appropriate payment update for 2007 and 2008 for class III DME. In this report, GAO (1) examined whether class III devices have unique premarketing costs and (2) determined how the fee schedule rate-setting methodology accounts for the premarketing costs of such devices.
section_title: What GAO Found
paragraphs: GAO found that manufacturers of class III devices, with limited exceptions, have higher premarketing costs than do manufacturers of class II devices that are similar to class III devices. Premarketing costs consist of FDA user fees and research and development costs, both for any clinical data the manufacturer is required to submit and for other research and development costs. Manufacturers of class III devices pay higher FDA user fees, because of the more complex FDA review required prior to marketing, than do manufacturers of class II devices. Specifically, the user fee for class III devices subject to this review in 2005 was $239,237, while the fee for class II devices in 2005 was $3,502. The FDA application and approval process takes longer for class III manufacturers, which lengthens the time it takes before they can market their devices and begin receiving revenue. FDA requires that manufacturers submit clinical data for class III devices, but only occasionally requires the same for class II devices. In interviews with GAO, class III manufacturers stated that they incur higher premarketing costs for other research and development, such as labor costs related to designing a device, compared to manufacturers of class II devices. Class II manufacturers also told GAO that they incur substantial costs related to other research and development. GAO did not evaluate proprietary data to determine whether a difference in other premarketing research and development costs exists between the two types of manufacturers. GAO found that the Medicare DME fee schedule rate-setting methodology accounts for the respective premarketing costs of class II and class III devices in a consistent manner. Regardless of device classification, the Medicare DME fee schedule payment rate for a device is based on either the manufacturer's retail price or historic reasonable Medicare charges, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services considers equivalent measures. In interviews with GAO, manufacturers of class III devices stated that when setting their retail prices, they take into account the premarketing costs of complying with federal regulatory requirements, including the costs of required clinical data collection and other research and development. These manufacturers accounted for over 96 percent of class III DME payments in 2004. Manufacturers of class II devices also stated that they take into account these costs when setting retail prices.

section_title: Letter
paragraphs: Medicare pays for durable medical equipment (DME) provided to  beneficiaries based on a fee schedule. Until 2004, annual updates to DME  fee schedule payment rates had been applied uniformly to all items on the  fee schedule. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and  Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) provided for an annual payment rate  update equal to the annual percentage increase in the consumer price  index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) from 2004 through 2006 to  Medicare fee schedule payment rates for DME regulated as class III  medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For these  devices, in 2007, MMA provided for an annual payment update to be  determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and in 2008,  for an update equal to the annual percentage increase in the CPI-U. MMA  also provided that from 2004 through 2008, all other DME will receive a   0 percent update. Although payments for class III devices are less than   1 percent of total Medicare DME payments, they increased from   $16.9 million to $53.2 million, or by 215 percent, from 2001 through 2004.  Osteogenesis stimulators, devices used to promote bone growth in  difficult-to-heal fractures or following spinal fusion surgery, accounted for  a large proportion of class III DME payments during this time,  representing over 96 percent of the total in 2004.
MMA directed us to report on an appropriate payment update percentage  for 2007 and 2008 to the DME fee schedule for class III devices provided to  Medicare beneficiaries. To report on an appropriate payment update  percentage, as agreed with the committees of jurisdiction, we   (1) examined whether there are unique premarketing costs associated  with class III devices compared to similar devices in other classes on the  DME fee schedule and (2) determined how the DME fee schedule rate- setting methodology accounts for the premarketing costs of these devices.
To address these objectives, we interviewed officials from the Centers for  Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that administers  Medicare; FDA; two DME regional carriers, the contractors responsible for  processing DME claims; and the Statistical Analysis DME Regional Carrier,  the contractor that provides data analysis support to CMS. To examine the  premarketing costs of devices, we obtained the fees that FDA charges for  device review, known as user fees, which are published on the FDA Web  site. We also reviewed the FDA device approval process and data on the  length of time it takes for device review from FDA’s Office of Device  Evaluation (ODE) 2004 Annual Report. We interviewed manufacturers of  class III devices about the types of costs they incur in producing the  devices, including FDA fees for device review and the costs of research  and development, both for any clinical data the manufacturer is required  to submit and for other research and development costs, such as labor  costs. We also interviewed manufacturers of certain class II devices on the  DME fee schedule that CMS identified as similar to the class III devices on  the schedule in terms of complexity. We did not evaluate proprietary data  to determine whether a difference in other premarketing research and  development costs exists between the two types of manufacturers. To  determine how the DME fee schedule accounts for premarketing costs, we  interviewed CMS officials and reviewed CMS documents on the DME fee  schedule rate-setting methodology. We also interviewed officials from a  trade organization that represents manufacturers of medical devices,  industry organizations for orthopedic surgeons and pain physicians, and  two private health insurance companies. Appendix I contains a more  complete description of our methodology. We conducted our work from  December 2004 through February 2006 in accordance with generally  accepted government auditing standards.
subsections: section_title: Background
paragraphs: FDA is responsible for regulating the marketing of medical devices to  provide reasonable assurance of their safety and effectiveness for human  use. As part of its regulatory responsibility, FDA reviews applications from  manufacturers that wish to market their medical devices in the United  States. Prior to marketing new devices, manufacturers must apply for FDA  marketing approval through either the premarket notification (also  referred to as 510(k)) process, or the premarket approval (PMA) process,  a more rigorous regulatory review. New devices are subject to PMA,  unless they are substantially equivalent to an already marketed device, in  which case they need to comply only with the premarket notification  requirements. Applications for premarket notification are generally  reviewed more quickly than applications for PMA and do not usually  require clinical data.
Medical devices are regulated using a three-part classification system and  are subject to different levels of control based upon their classifications as  class I, II, or III devices. Class I devices are generally those with the lowest  risk for use by humans and require the least regulatory oversight. These  devices are subject to general controls, which include standards for good  manufacturing practices, and requirements related to manufacturer  registration, maintenance of records, and reporting. Examples of class I  devices are patient examination gloves, canes, and crutches. Class II  devices are generally of higher risk and are also subject to general  controls; however, FDA can establish special controls for these devices,  such as development and dissemination of guidance documents,  mandatory performance standards, and postmarket surveillance.  Examples of class II devices are blood glucose test systems and infusion  pumps.
Class III devices typically pose the greatest risk and thus have the highest  level of regulation. This classification includes most devices that support  or sustain human life, are of substantial importance in preventing  impairment of human health, or present a potential unreasonable risk of  illness or injury. Because general and special controls may not be  sufficient to ensure safety and effectiveness, these devices, with limited  exceptions, must obtain PMA. To obtain PMA, the manufacturer must  provide FDA with sufficient valid scientific evidence providing reasonable  assurance that the device is safe and effective for its intended use. Once  approved, changes to the device affecting safety or effectiveness require  the submission and approval of a supplement to its PMA. Examples of  class III devices include automatic external defibrillators and implantable  infusion pumps used to administer medication.
Some class III devices are provided as part of a hospital visit; Medicare  pays for these devices through the hospital inpatient or outpatient  prospective payment systems. Five categories of class III devices,  however, can be provided in physicians’ offices or prescribed by  physicians for use in the home; Medicare pays for these devices through  the DME fee schedule.
In 2004, Medicare payments for class III devices under the DME fee  schedule were $53.2 million, which represented less than 1 percent of total  DME payments. The Medicare DME fee schedule payment rate for a device  is based on either the manufacturer’s retail price or historic reasonable  Medicare charges, which CMS considers equivalent measures. MMA  provided for a 0 percent annual update for most Medicare DME fee  schedule payment rates from 2004 through 2008. However, under MMA,  class III devices were excluded from the 0 percent update and received  payment updates equal to the annual percentage increase in the CPI-U in  2004, 2005, and 2006. For these devices, MMA provides, in 2007 for a  payment update as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human  Services, and in 2008, for a payment update equal to the annual percentage  increase in the CPI-U.
section_title: Class III Devices Have Higher Premarketing Costs than Class II Devices
paragraphs: We found that with limited exceptions, manufacturers of class III devices  have higher premarketing costs than do manufacturers of class II devices.  Manufacturers of class III devices pay higher FDA user fees for review of  their devices, because of the more complex FDA review required prior to  marketing, than do manufacturers of class II devices. According to FDA  data, compared to class II manufacturers, class III manufacturers have a  longer period before approval during the FDA application process, which  lengthens the time before they can market their devices and begin  receiving revenue. FDA requires that manufacturers submit clinical data  for class III devices, but only occasionally requires the same for class II  devices. In addition, class III manufacturers stated they incur higher  premarketing costs for other research and development than do  manufacturers of class II devices. However, class II manufacturers also  stated that they incur substantial premarketing costs related to other  research and development. Because we did not evaluate proprietary data  on other premarketing research and development costs, we could not  determine whether a difference in other premarketing research and  development costs exists between class III and class II manufacturers.
Manufacturers of class III devices pay higher FDA user fees for review of  their devices, because of the more complex FDA review required prior to  marketing, than do manufacturers of class II devices. Specifically,  manufacturers of class III devices subject to this review pay the FDA user  fee for PMA, which in 2005 was $239,237 for each PMA. Most PMA  supplements, which must be filed when a manufacturer makes a change to  a class III device that affects its safety or effectiveness, also require  payment of a fee, which ranged from $6,546 to $239,237. Manufacturers of  class II devices pay the FDA user fee for each premarket notification,  which in 2005 was $3,502. When a manufacturer makes a change to a  class II device, a new premarket notification application must be filed;  there is no supplement process for these devices.
Manufacturers of class III devices have a longer period before approval  during the FDA application process, which they stated delays the  marketing of their devices and the receipt of revenue. According to ODE’s  2004 Annual Report, in 2004, the average time for PMA review was   503 days while the average time for premarket notification review was   100 days. These average times include the total time a PMA or premarket  notification was under review by FDA and the time the manufacturer used  in responding to any FDA requests for additional information.
FDA requires that class III manufacturers submit clinical data, for which  manufacturers incur costs. FDA only occasionally requires the submission  of clinical data for class II devices. Specifically, FDA requires  manufacturers of class III devices to submit clinical data as part of the  PMA process to provide reasonable assurance that the devices are safe  and effective for their intended uses. During its review of a device’s PMA  application, FDA may require that the manufacturer provide additional  information, which may require submission of additional clinical data.  Manufacturers of class III devices stated that to collect clinical data, they  conducted costly animal studies, human preclinical studies, and human  clinical trials. Manufacturers of class II devices must satisfy premarket  notification requirements; that is, they must submit documentation that a  device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device. An FDA  official stated that manufacturers of class II devices may be required to  provide clinical data. They may be required to provide these data, for  example, to demonstrate that modifications they have made to a device  would not significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or if a device is to  be marketed for a new or different indication. According to FDA, 10 to   15 percent of premarket notification applications include clinical data.
Manufacturers of class III devices we spoke with stated that in addition to  collecting clinical data, they incur higher premarketing costs related to  other research and development, such as labor costs and manufacturing  supplies related to designing a device, than do manufacturers of other  classes of devices. They stated that class III devices are highly innovative,  complex products that require costly premarketing research and  development to produce. One class III manufacturer we spoke with stated  that approximately 10 percent of its revenue between 2002 and 2005 was  invested in premarketing research and development. Another class III  manufacturer stated that approximately 4 percent of its operating budget  is spent on premarketing research and development.
However, manufacturers of class II devices we spoke with also stated that  they incur substantial premarketing costs related to research and  development. Specifically, we spoke with a manufacturer of an insulin  pump and two manufacturers of continuous positive airway pressure  devices, each of which stated it incurs substantial research and  development costs. One class II manufacturer stated that 10 to 15 percent  of a device’s total cost was attributable to research and development.  Another class II manufacturer stated that approximately 7 to 10 percent of  its revenue is spent on research and development. Because we did not  evaluate proprietary data for other premarketing research and  development costs, we were unable to determine whether a difference in  other premarketing research and development costs exists between class  III and class II manufacturers.
section_title: DME Fee Schedule Rate-Setting Methodology Accounts for Premarketing Costs of Class II and III Devices in a Consistent Manner
paragraphs: The CMS rate-setting methodology for Medicare’s DME fee schedule  accounts for the premarketing costs of class II and class III devices in a  consistent manner. The fee schedule payment rate for an item of DME,  regardless of device classification, is based on either historic Medicare  charges or the manufacturer’s retail price, which CMS has determined are  equivalent measures. Manufacturers of both class II and class III devices  we spoke with stated that when setting their retail prices, they take into  account all premarketing costs necessary to bring the device to market.
CMS has two DME fee schedule rate-setting methodologies: one method is  for items that belong to a payment category covered by Medicare at the  time the DME fee schedule was implemented in 1989, and one method is  for items added to the DME fee schedule after 1989 that are not covered by  an existing payment category. Regardless of its classification as a class I,  II, or III device, the payment rate for an item of DME covered by Medicare  when the DME fee schedule was implemented in 1989 is based on its  average reasonable Medicare charge from July 1, 1986, through June 30,  1987, for some items, and July 1, 1986, through December 31, 1986, for  other items (both referred to as the base year). Historically, these payment  rates have been updated by a uniform, statutorily set, percentage, which is  usually based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-U. Generally,  for items added to the fee schedule after 1989 that are not covered by an  existing payment category, CMS does not have historic Medicare charges  upon which to base the payment rate. CMS has determined that in these  cases, the manufacturer’s retail price is a sufficient substitute to calculate  the fee schedule payment amount, and CMS considers the payment  amount that results from this methodology to be equivalent to historic  reasonable Medicare charges. To determine the payment rate, CMS  obtains the manufacturer’s retail price for the new item and uses a formula  based on the cumulative annual percentage increase in the CPI-U to  deflate the price to what it would have been in the base year. Using a  formula based on the statutory DME fee schedule payment updates since  the base year, CMS then inflates the base year price to the year in which  the item was added to the fee schedule. In succeeding years, the item is  updated by the applicable DME fee schedule update. The cumulative  updates applied to DME are lower than the corresponding CPI-U increases  because, in certain years, the statutory update was less than the CPI-U  increase. Therefore, the payment rate of a device is generally lower than  its retail price.
Manufacturers of class III devices we spoke with, whose devices  accounted for over 96 percent of class III DME payments in 2004, stated  that when setting their retail prices, they take into account the  premarketing costs of complying with federal agencies’ requirements,  including the costs of collecting clinical data, and the costs of research  and development. Manufacturers of class II devices similarly stated that  they take into account the premarketing costs of complying with federal  agencies’ requirements and of research and development, including any  clinical data they may be required to collect.
section_title: Conclusions
paragraphs: From 2004 through 2006, MMA provided for a payment update to the DME  fee schedule for class III devices equal to the annual percentage increase  in the CPI-U. In addition, for these devices, for 2007, MMA provided for a  payment update to be determined by the Secretary of Health and Human  Services, and for 2008, a payment update equal to the annual percentage  increase in the CPI-U. From 2004 through 2008, for class II devices,  however, MMA provided for a 0 percent payment update.
Manufacturers of class III devices, with limited exceptions, have higher  premarketing costs than manufacturers of class II devices, specifically,  higher costs related to FDA user fees and submission of clinical data.  However, class III and class II manufacturers we spoke with stated they  take these premarketing costs, as well as premarketing research and  development costs, into account when setting their retail prices. Because  the initial payment rates for all classes of devices on the Medicare DME  fee schedule are based on these retail prices or an equivalent measure,  they account for the costs of class III and similar class II devices in a  consistent manner. Distinct updates for two different classes of devices  are unwarranted.
section_title: Matter for Congressional Consideration
paragraphs: The Congress should consider establishing a uniform payment update to  the DME fee schedule for 2008 for class II and class III devices.
section_title: Recommendation for Executive Action
paragraphs: We recommend that the Secretary of Health and Human Services establish  a uniform payment update to the DME fee schedule for 2007 for class II  and class III devices.
section_title: Agency and External Reviewer Comments and Our Evaluation
paragraphs: We received written comments on a draft of this report from HHS (see  app. II). We also received oral comments from six external reviewers  representing industry organizations. The external reviewers were the  Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), which represents  manufacturers of medical devices, and representatives from five class III  device manufacturers—the four manufacturers of osteogenesis  stimulators and one manufacturer of both implantable infusion pumps and  automatic external defibrillators.
subsections: section_title: HHS Comments
paragraphs: In commenting on a draft of this report, HHS agreed with our  recommendation to establish a uniform payment update to the DME fee  schedule for 2007 for class II and class III devices. The agency did not  comment on whether the Congress should consider establishing a uniform  payment update to the DME fee schedule for 2008 for these devices. HHS  agreed with our finding that the costs of class II and class III DME have  been factored into the fee schedule amounts for these devices, noting that  CMS is committed to effectively and efficiently implementing DME  payment rules. It stated that our report did a thorough job of reviewing  Medicare payment rules associated with the costs of furnishing class III  devices.
HHS also provided technical comments, which we incorporated where  appropriate.
section_title: Industry Comments and Our Evaluation
paragraphs: Industry representatives who reviewed a draft of this report did not agree  or disagree with our matter for congressional consideration or our  recommendation for executive action. They did, however, express concern  that we did not recommend a specific update percentage for class III  devices. Our report recommends a uniform payment update to the DME  fee schedule for class II and class III devices; we believe that this  recommendation satisfies the requirement in MMA to make  recommendations on the appropriate update percentage for class III  devices.
Two manufacturers of class III devices commented on the class II device  manufacturers we interviewed. One manufacturer stated that it would  have been more appropriate to interview manufacturers of class II devices  that are not similar to class III devices in terms of complexity. The other  manufacturer expressed concern that we did not speak with more class II  manufacturers.
The four osteogenesis stimulator manufacturers expressed concern that  we did not examine costs they incur after they market a device.  Specifically, several stated that they incur labor costs for services  provided to beneficiaries and physicians, research and development costs  related to FDA-required surveillance on osteogenesis stimulators’ safety,  and research and development costs to improve or find new uses for a  device. In addition, one manufacturer stated that it conducts costly  research and development for some products that never come to market.
Concerning comments about the class II manufacturers we interviewed, as  noted in the draft report, our conclusion that class III devices have higher  premarketing costs than do manufacturers of class II devices is based on  FDA requirements and FDA data that apply to class III and class II  manufacturers and not on information obtained from class III and class II  manufacturers. According to FDA data, manufacturers of class III devices  pay higher FDA user fees and have a longer period of time before approval  during the FDA application process. FDA also requires that all class III  manufacturers submit clinical data, for which manufacturers incur costs,  and only occasionally requires the submission of clinical data for class II  devices.
Regarding manufacturers’ concerns that we did not examine all of their  device-related costs, we included these costs in our analysis, where  appropriate. With respect to labor costs for services provided to  beneficiaries and physicians, to the extent that suppliers do perform these  services, the costs are known prior to marketing the device and can be  taken into account when setting their retail price. Two class III  manufacturers we spoke with volunteered that they take these labor costs  into account when setting retail prices prior to the device going to market.  Regarding research and development costs for FDA-required surveillance,  both class III and class II devices may be subject to surveillance on a case- by-case basis; prior to marketing, FDA notifies manufacturers that a device  will be subject to postmarket surveillance. Also prior to marketing the  device, manufacturers must submit, for FDA approval, a plan to conduct  the required surveillance. As noted in the draft report, both class III and  class II device manufacturers stated, that when setting their retail prices,  they take into account the premarketing costs of complying with federal  agencies’ requirements. With respect to research and development costs to  improve or find new uses for a device after it is marketed, these are costs  incurred to modify an existing device or develop a new device. Costs  incurred for a future device are premarketing costs related to that device  and not costs related to marketing the existing device. Finally, we did not  examine research and development costs for products that do not come to  market because these costs do not directly relate to items on the Medicare  DME fee schedule; therefore, it would be inappropriate to consider them  when reporting on the appropriate update percentage to items on the fee  schedule.
Industry representatives raised several issues that went beyond the scope  of our report. These issues included the appropriateness of the DME rate- setting methodology, payment incentives that may lead providers to use  one site of service over another, and incentives for manufacturers to bring  new devices to the market.
Reviewers also made technical comments, which we incorporated where  appropriate.
We are sending copies of this report to the Secretary of Health and Human  Services, the Administrators of CMS and FDA, and appropriate  congressional committees. We will also make copies available to others on  request. In addition, the report is available at no charge on GAO’s Web site  at http://www.gao.gov.
If you or your staffs have any questions, please contact me at (202) 512- 7119 or kingk@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional  Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this report.  GAO staff who made major contributions to this report are listed in  appendix III.
section_title: Appendix I: Scope and Methodology
paragraphs: To address our objectives, we interviewed officials from the Centers for  Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); the Food and Drug Administration  (FDA); two of the four durable medical equipment (DME) regional  carriers, the contractors responsible for processing DME claims; and the  Statistical Analysis DME Regional Carrier, the contractor that provides  data analysis support to CMS. To examine the premarketing costs of  devices, we obtained the fees that FDA charges for device review, known  as user fees, which are published on the FDA Web site. We also reviewed  the FDA device approval process, and data on device review times from  FDA’s Office of Device Evaluation’s 2004 Annual Report. We interviewed  the four manufacturers of osteogenesis stimulators and one manufacturer  of both implantable infusion pumps and automatic external defibrillators,  all class III medical devices, about the types of costs they incur in  producing the devices, including FDA fees for device review and the costs  of research and development, both for any clinical data the manufacturer  is required to submit and for other research and development costs, such  as labor costs related to designing a device. These class III manufacturers’  devices accounted for over 96 percent of class III Medicare DME payments  in 2004. We also spoke with a manufacturer of insulin pumps and two  manufacturers of continuous positive airway pressure devices, class II  devices on the DME fee schedule that CMS identified as similar to the  class III devices on the schedule in terms of complexity. We did not  evaluate proprietary data to determine whether a difference in other  premarketing research and development costs exists between the two  types of manufacturers.
To determine how the DME fee schedule accounts for premarketing costs,  we interviewed CMS officials and reviewed CMS documents on the DME  fee schedule rate-setting methodology. We interviewed representatives  from the Advanced Medical Technology Association; the American  Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; the American Society of Interventional  Pain Physicians; and two private insurance companies.
We conducted our work from December 2004 through February 2006 in  accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
section_title: Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Health and Human Services
section_title: Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments
subsections: section_title: Acknowledgments
paragraphs: In addition to the contact named above, Nancy A. Edwards, Assistant  Director; Joanna L. Hiatt; and Andrea E. Richardson made key  contributions to this report.