The Connected Health Initiative (CHI) appreciates the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for finalizing the Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway. While this is a positive step toward bringing new health technologies into Medicare, we believe CMS missed a crucial opportunity by keeping the TCET pathway too narrow.
By excluding many Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) solutions, CMS limits access to innovative tools that could greatly benefit Medicare patients. These digital health technologies have been shown to improve patient care, prevent unnecessary hospital visits, and lower healthcare costs. However, current regulations make it difficult and time-consuming—often taking up to six years—to get these technologies covered by Medicare. These delays prevent patients from accessing valuable health solutions that could improve their lives.
CHI will continue to work with CMS, Congress, and others to modernize pathways to Medicare coverage and payment rules. Medicare patients should benefit from the latest digital health innovations that improve care quality and reduce costs.