Senate bill would let Medicare patients self-pay for medical devices

Editor's Note

Four US Senators (two democrats, two republicans) are sponsoring legislation—The Accelerating Innovation in Medicine (AIM) Act—that would increase Medicare patients’ access to new medical devices.

Currently, Medicare patients who are interested in self-paying for a device not covered by Medicare face significant administrative obstacles. 

Under AIM, once a device is approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, it would be immediately available as a treatment option for physicians and Medicare patients who choose to self-pay, with no paperwork, administrative costs, or risk of penalties.  

Four U.S. Senators have introduced legislation designed to increase patient access to medical devices by giving them the option of self-paying rather than going through the time-consuming Medicare coverage process. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and John Thune (R-S.D.)