Will NCCN’s Drug Compendium Become a Source for Off-Label Coverage Determinations?

The Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee is meeting tomorrow, March 30, to consider whether to add a third source of information regarding coverage for off-label uses of anticancer medications. Practice Manager Insider will follow up on this story next week.

The law allows three drug compendia to be used in determining the “medically accepted indication” of agents used off-label in chemotherapeutic regimens. One of these, American Medical Association Drug Evaluations, is no longer published. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is seeking recognition for its publication, NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium™. This resource is based on NCCN recommendations and practice guidelines, as well as FDA-approved uses. The NCCN guidelines are already an accepted tool in the 2006 CMS oncology demonstration project.

The other two compendia approved as sources for off-label coverage determinations are American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information, and United States Pharmacopeia Drug Information. The latter will cease publication under that name and continue under a new name.