AAH: Keep paying for levalbuterol

WASHINGTON - Inhalation drugs play a critical role in the management of COPD, and Medicare must ensure coverage of these drugs with a national coverage determination, says AAHomecare. CMS initiated a review Dec. 20 on the use of nebulized beta agonists--primarily albuterol and levalbuterol--in the treatment of COPD. The public comment period closed Jan. 19 and CMS is expected to announce a decision this summer. In comments submitted to CMS Jan. 19, AAHomecare stated that: * While it may be argued there is only modest evidence demonstrating the benefits of levalbuterol over racemic albuterol in COPD, it is important to note that the absence of (numerous) published clinical studies does not by itself establish a lack of clinical efficacy or medical need. This kind of extrapolation on limited data is purely speculative and conflicts with current standards of clinical practice, which defer the selection and prescription of the most clinically appropriate drug therapies to the physician. * With regard to levalbuterol, there is limited published data demonstrating its effectiveness over albuterol. However, studies have shown that patients treated with levalbuterol required less medication, had shorter hospital stays, spent less for nebulizer therapy and hospitalization and experienced a more prolonged therapeutic benefit. * COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and costs the United States over $18 billion annually in direct costs and another $11 billion in indirect costs. * Effective management of COPD includes relieving symptoms, preventing disease progression, and preventing and treating complications and exacerbations. Bronchodilator therapy is the preferred therapy.