January 13, 2025
Medtronic: Medicare RDN Coverage in 4Q24
In keeping with expectations laid out in our note late last week, CMS’s opening of a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) for renal denervation (RDN) [Medtronic (MDT), Otsuka (4578.JT) / ReCor] this afternoon has a target…
January 10, 2025
Medtronic (MDT): Renal Denervation Coverage Read-Through?
This morning’s opening of a Medicare National Coverage Determination (NCD) for privately-held Impulse Dynamics’ Optimizer System bolsters our view that coverage for renal denervation (RDN) systems [Medtronic (MDT), Otsuka / ReCor (4578.JT)] is unlikely to…
January 6, 2025
Conference Policy Prep Pack: Devices, Diagnostics, & Tools
With medical device, equipment, diagnostics, and life science tools (LST) companies set to descend on San Francisco next week for a key investor conference, below we provide a set of significant policy-related questions for clients…
November 20, 2024
[UNH, HUM, ALHC, AGL, PRVA, MD]: Trump’s Unorthodox CMS Pick Reinforces Already Anticipated Support for Medicare Advantage and Physicians
President Trump’s surprise and unorthodox nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be CMS administrator, whom we presume will likely be confirmed, affords somewhat of a blank slate for others in the administration to fill in…
November 4, 2024
[MDT, BSX, LIVN, CVRX] Medtech Medicare Rule Puts & Takes
Key Takeaways: We appear to have run the table with our pre-rule expectations [here, here] following CMS’s release Friday of its CY25 hospital outpatient payment rule, which includes the following company-specific implications: MDT & Otsuka…
October 28, 2024
[BSX, MDT, LIVN, INSP, CVRX] Catalyst Watch: Medicare Rate Rule Prep Pack
Key Takeaways: With CMS likely to release its final CY25 hospital outpatient payment rule by Friday (typically aftermarket) or early next week, we offer the following expectations for key product payment decisions, listed in market…
October 8, 2024
[EW, ABT] Tricuspid Coverage & Sales Trajectory
Key Takeaways: As investors look to model out sales of Edwards Lifesciences’ (EW) Evoque tricuspid valve replacement in advance of CMS’s draft National Coverage Determination (NCD), which is expected by ~Dec. 20 (final policy due…