The Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) was established to provide independent guidance and expert advice to CMS on specific clinical topics. The MEDCAC is used to supplement CMS' internal expertise and to allow an unbiased and current deliberation of "state of the art" technology and science.  The MEDCAC reviews and evaluates medical literature, technology assessments, and examines data and information on the effectiveness and appropriateness of medical items and services that are covered under Medicare, or that may be eligible for coverage under Medicare. The MEDCAC judges the strength of the available evidence and makes recommendations to CMS based on that evidence.

We select up to 100 experts in clinical and administrative medicine, biologic and physical sciences, public health administration, patient advocacy, health care data and information management and analysis, health care economics, and medical ethics to serve on the MEDCAC. We select approximately 15 members with knowledge specific to  the topic in question to serve on the panel for each MEDCAC meeting.  We may recruit non-MEDCAC members who have relevant expertise to provide additional input to panel members and invite experts to make formal presentations to the MEDCAC for a particular meeting.  The panel meets in a public forum approximately 6 times a year to review medical evidence for the topic under deliberation, listen to public testimony, and provide advice about the quality of the evidence.   

MEDCAC meetings are announced in the Federal Register and on CMS' website.  Our coverage website contains a guidance document entitled Factors CMS Considers in Referring Topics to the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee; the MEDCAC's charter, the 1998 Federal Register notice that established the MEDCAC (formerly known as the MCAC); the current roster of MEDCAC members; and other informational materials.

Downloads
Charter  [PDF, 221KB] Federal Register Notice Establishing MCAC  [PDF, 14KB] Roster [PDF, 43KB] (Updated 03/01/2008) Renewal and Renaming of the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC) to Medicare Evidence Development Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) and a Request for Nominations for Members for the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (01/26/2007) [PDF, 59KB] Request for Nominations for Members (01/28/2008) [PDF, 180KB] Request for Nominations for Member (03/24/2006) [PDF, 64KB] Request for Nominations for Members (07/22/2005) [PDF, 59KB] Renewal And Amendment of MCAC Charter (12/27/02) [PDF, 42KB] Guidelines for Speaking at MCAC Meetings [PDF, 24KB] Process for Evaluation of Effectiveness and Committee Operations [PDF, 95KB] Guiding Principles For When National Coverage Determination Topics Are Referred For External Expertise Via A Technology Assessment and/or The Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee [PDF, 34KB]
Related Links Inside CMS
Index of Meetings Factors CMS Considers in Referring Topics to the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee Patient Advocacy Qs & As Coverage Center Medicare Coverage Database
Related Links Outside CMS
There are no Related Links Outside CMS

Page Last Modified: 08/05/2008 1:21:56 PM
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