Medtech


December 12, 2025

INSP: Inspire V Coverage Questions Answered

By John Leppard

Having received a large number of questions on whether Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) might refuse to cover INSP’s Inspire V device under CPT 64568 following CMS’s recent facility rate increase via assignment to a New…

Read More >>

December 10, 2025

INSP / LIVN: Pricing, Payments & Policy

By John Leppard

With shares of INSP up ~60% since CMS announced a 48% hospital rate increase for Inspire V procedures billed under CPT 64568 in CY26 (+58% for ASCs), we continue to believe that this will be…

Read More >>

November 29, 2025

DXCM, TNDM, BBNX, RMD, COLOB.DC, CTEC.LN: Competitive Bidding Comes for CGM, Pumps, & More

By John Leppard

With CMS finalizing [Fact Sheet, Final Rule] its intention to include continuous glucose monitors (CGM) [DXCM, ABT], insulin pumps [TNDM, BBNX], and urological / ostomy supplies [COLOB.DC, CTEC.LN] in the next round of the Competitive…

Read More >>

November 25, 2025

[DXCM, ABT] CGM Report Suggest Competitive Bidding Coming

By John Leppard

Publication of the HHS Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) long-awaited report today on Medicare payments for continuous glucose monitors (CGM): (A) bolsters our long-held view that the agency intends to finalize its intention to include…

Read More >>

November 22, 2025

INSP, NYXH, LIVN: Surprise (But Short Lived?) Payment Win

By John Leppard

CMS’s surprise decision to reassign cranial nerve neurostimulator code CPT 64568 to a $45K New Tech APC (+48% YoY) represents a significant 2026 tailwind for both vagus (VNS) [LIVN’s Sentiva] and hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS)…

Read More >>

November 18, 2025

IRTC Coverage Risks: Smoke or Fire?

By John Leppard

With shares of IRTC pressured yesterday amid speculation on the risks associated with a Sept. 25 draft local coverage determination (LCD), we suspect the final version – likely released in March / April – will…

Read More >>

November 14, 2025

MMSI: Wrapsody Outpatient Margin Implications

By John Leppard

Consistent with our long-held expectations [here, here], MMSI’s disclosure yesterday that CMS has “deferred” a decision on its Wrapsody transitional pass-through (TPT) payment application suggests a greater likelihood that it was denied, in our view,…

Read More >>

November 13, 2025

GKOS: iDose Medicare Coverage Expectations

By John Leppard

Yesterday’s Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) advisory committee (CAC) meeting on GKOS’s iDose bolsters our relatively sanguine outlook going into the event [here, here], and would expect any headwinds from a likely mid-2026 draft local coverage…

Read More >>

November 3, 2025

[MDXG, CTEC.LN, COLOB.C] Skin Substitute Rates & Additional Risks

By John Leppard

Consistent with our expectations, we view MDXG and CTEC.LN as most exposed to CMS’s finalized Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) policy to reduce skin substitute payments from current Average Sales Price (ASP) / invoice levels to…

Read More >>

November 3, 2025

PRCT: Nominal Rates vs Opportunity Costs

By John Leppard

CMS’s final CY26 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) released late Friday will reduce payments for PRCT Aquablation services by -29% in 2026, going from a volume-weighted $765 across the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to $542,…

Read More >>