RETIRED - Medical Grade Honey as a Surgical Dressing Component - Request for Information

IMPORTANT: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS OUTDATED INFORMATION.

Content Provided on this page contains outdated information and instruction and should not be considered current. Noridian is providing this archived information for research purposes only. This archived article contains previously issued instructions that have since been updated or are no longer applicable for Medicare billing purposes.

Article retired due to content incorporation into the applicable Local Coverage Determination or related Policy Article.

DME MAC Joint Publication

Surgical Dressings are covered by the DME MACs when used on a qualifying wound. Medical grade honey has been a component in many dressings. Recently the DME MACs were called upon to evaluate the generally accepted medical uses of honey in wounds. As part of our evaluation, we are soliciting information from interested parties. We are requesting that interested parties provide relevant clinical evidence discussing the accepted uses of medical grade honey in wound care.

We make these determinations using an evidence-based medical standard in a review of the published clinical literature. The Medicare standard for clinical evidence is described in the Program Integrity Manual (Internet-Only Manual, Pub. 100-08, Chapter 13, Section 13.7.1):

 [S]hall be based on the strongest evidence available. The extent and quality of supporting evidence is key... The initial action in gathering evidence … shall always be a search of published scientific literature for any available evidence pertaining to the item or service in question. In order of preference:

  • Published authoritative evidence derived from definitive randomized clinical trials or other definitive studies, and
  • General acceptance by the medical community (standard of practice), as supported by sound medical evidence based on:
    • Scientific data or research studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals;
    • Consensus of expert medical opinion (i.e., recognized authorities in the field); or
    • Medical opinion derived from consultations with medical associations or other health care experts.

Acceptance by individual health care providers, or even a limited group of health care providers, normally does not indicate general acceptance by the medical community. Testimonials indicating such limited acceptance, and limited case studies distributed by sponsors with financial interest in the outcome, are not sufficient evidence of general acceptance by the medical community. The broad range of available evidence must be considered and its quality shall be evaluated before a conclusion is reached.

Interested parties choosing to provide information are encouraged to use this standard as well.

We request that all information be submitted electronically to: NHICdmedraftlcdfeedback@hp.com

Deadline for Submission of Information: August 1, 2014.

 

Last Updated Dec 11 , 2023