Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015 Mar;139(3):300-4. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2014-0190-ED.

Payment for cancer biomarker testing.

Allen TC1.

Author information

• 1From the Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.

“The problem is that Medicare is no ordinary payer. Private payers emulate the agency's coverage decisions. So Medicare's [sic] ends up setting the market standard.” ¹⁴ Policymakers need to address this. “If the political class wants to put most of the reimbursement of health care under the thumb of government, it needs to pay particular care to how its coverage and payment policies affect incentives to new innovation. Medicare isn't just another payer looking to ratchet down on payment rates in the name of cost containment.” ¹⁴ “Its decisions end up having a profound impact on investment and development of new products . . . it needs to be mindful of its impacts.” ¹⁴