THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced its response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) final National Coverage Determination (NCD) on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in cancer and related neoplastic conditions. Based on Amgen’s preliminary review, it appears that CMS has adopted a policy that will limit the availability of these vital medicines to Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. While the decision makes several positive changes from the earlier proposed NCD, ESA treatment is not covered if the patient’s hemoglobin (Hb) level is greater than 10 g/dL.
