CMS will no longer recognize cancer drug code

by CHARLES FIEGL on Nov 17, 2009

CMS will no longer recognize the code Q2024 (Bevacizumab, or Avastin) for payment of nonoutpatient hospital claims, the agency announced.  The code will be deleted from Medicare's Average Sales Price (ASP) file starting Jan. 1. CMS wants you to return to previous reporting practices for "small intraocular doses" of the cancer fighting drug.

There has been some press about the drug lately. The New York Times had a feature about injecting the drug directly on brain tumors. Drugmakers are also seeking approval from the FDA to use the drug to treat advanced stages of breast cancer.

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