Medicare advisory committee recognizes PDT as effective treatment in occult CNV

WASHINGTON — A Medicare advisory committee voted “overwhelmingly” that photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is an effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration with occult but no classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to make a decision on coverage of the procedure shortly, based on the committee’s recommendation.

In a public meeting with the committee earlier this week, AAO representatives presented the AAO’s Preferred Practice Pattern, which recommends PDT treatment with verteporfin for certain types of CNV in AMD. The committee voted later in the week in support of the procedure.

The Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee advises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on clinical issues, according to the AAO press release. The CMS is not obligated to follow the committee’s recommendations, but an AAO representative said he believes it is “highly likely” that they will.