LCD announces coverage for PGx testing under Medicare

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have posted a FUTURE Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for MolDX: Pharmacogenomics Testing (L38294). This includes broad coverage for pharmacogenomic testing to go in effect this summer.

CPIC provided presentations to Palmetto prior to their draft LCD, and provided written comments on LCD ID L38294 back in November of 2019. CPIC members were instrumental in the feedback provided, and many of CPIC’s suggestions have been incorporated, and CPIC guidelines are cited throughout their document. For example, their post states:  “PGx tests are indicated when medications are being considered for use (or already being administered) that are medically necessary, appropriate, and approved for use in the patient’s condition and are known to have a gene(s)-drug interaction that has been demonstrated to be clinically actionable as defined by the FDA (PGx information required for safe drug administration) or Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines (category A and B).”

The LCD defines ‘actionable use’ of PGx as “when the genotype information may lead to selection of or avoidance of a specific therapy or modification of dosage of a therapy. The selection, avoidance, or dose change must be based on the FDA-label for the drug, an FDA warning or safety concern, or a CPIC level A or B gene-drug interaction”. PharmGKB uses the ‘Alternate Drug’ and ‘Dosing Info’ tags to highlight drug label annotations where the label contains information about contraindications or dosing changes based on genotype information. These tags can be used to filter our table of drug label annotations.

PGRN Transition

After 20 years of NIH funding, the Pharmacogenomics Research Network (PGRN) is becoming an independent scientific society on July 1, 2020. The deadline for becoming a founding member has been extended. If you are interested in joining, please visit www.pgrn.org.

On behalf of all of the NIH PGRN funded investigators, we thank NIH for their past support, particularly our original program officer, Dr. Rochelle Long (NIGMS Director, Division of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biological Chemistry).

Update 6/29/2020 The inaugural Research In Progress (RIPS) webinar from the PGRN society will be given by Alan Shuldiner, MD, on Friday July 17 at 11am Eastern time. Dr. Shuldiner will speak on "Building bridges between industry, academia, health care systems and communities to advance Precision Medicine".

From Friday August 14, RIPS webinars will be held on the second Friday of every month at 11am Eastern time for all PGRN members. A schedule of upcoming RIPS webinars can be found here. If you are interested in joining the PGRN, you can become a member at www.pgrn.org.