Frequent Questions

Font Size Reduce Text Size Enlarge Text Size     Print Print     Download Reader PDF

This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002 		Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

STATEMENT BY
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Regarding Approval of Special Payments to Treat Sepsis

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' decision today to provide Medicare payments to hospitals for a new biologic product used to treat severe sepsis is a major step forward in integrating new technologies into the hospital prospective payment system.

In an era of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs, we must do all we can to ensure that all patients have access to the latest in medical innovations. Xigris is a new product for treating severe sepsis that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration that should be made available to Medicare patients. This decision will bring the latest technology available for treating severe sepsis to Medicare beneficiaries, while making sure that hospitals will be compensated for providing this product.

Note: The change was included in the annual Medicare payment rule for inpatient hospitals for fiscal year 2003, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published today in the Federal Register.

###

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

horizontal line

HHS Home | Questions? | Contacting HHS | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | FOIA | Disclaimers | The White House | USA.gov | Helping America's Youth

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201