The ACC recently joined with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons to recommend changes to the draft decision memorandum for transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) first proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The societies suggested revisions to CMS's proposed requirement for joint intraoperative participation by a cardiologist and a surgeon, as well as other staffing requirements and clinical trial requirements. The comments support the proposed coverage in general and applaud CMS for its response to the societies' earlier request to cover TMVR when: 1) a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved device is used to treat an FDA-approved indication 2) the patient has been evaluated by a surgeon and cardiologist 3) the patient is under the care of a multidisciplinary heart team at an appropriately furnished and experienced hospital (4) data is submitted to a registry.

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