CMS delays decision on amyloid PET coverage

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to take more time to review evidence in deciding whether to change coverage for amyloid PET scans for patients in clinical trials.

"A proposed decision is forthcoming after CMS has reviewed newly published evidence," the CMS said, in a statement posted December 15.

The CMS was expected to announce a proposal by December 16 to change its coverage of amyloid PET scans for individuals in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials. Currently, participants are limited to a single scan per lifetime, and the CMS decision could have a major impact on how patients are managed and how new treatments are evaluated.