SNMMI, Zionexa call out CMS for reimbursement error

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is teaming up with Zionexa to urge the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to properly reimburse Cerianna, a radiolabeled F-18 fluoroestradiol radiotracer indicated for use with PET.

The imaging agent is used to detect estrogen receptor-positive lesions as an adjunct to biopsy in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. At the moment, the current rate of reimbursement is $0.752 per millicurie for Medicare patients instead of $608.33 per millicurie.

CMS said any corrections would be retroactive to January 1, but the correction isn't likely to happen until March for April or July implementation, according to the SNMMI.