Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET)
What is Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET)?
TCET is a program developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that serves as an alternative pathway for medical technologies to achieve faster nationwide coding, coverage, and payment. It utilizes current national coverage determination (NCD) and coverage with evidence development (CED) to expedite Medicare coverage of certain Breakthrough Devices.
TCET is a voluntary pathway that aims to reduce the uncertainty of coverage options through pre-market evaluation and identify important evidence gaps.
This pathway intends to:
- Facilitate early, predictable, and safe access to new technologies for beneficiaries.
- Reduce manufacturers’ and innovators’ uncertainty regarding coverage.
- Encourage evidence development should evidence gaps exist.
How will TCET help those in the MedTech industry?
One element of the TCET pathway is an evidence development framework that offers increased pre-market engagement with CMS and the flexibility to address evidence gaps through fit-for-purpose studies, which help to reduce manufacturer burden.
This pathway also helps the patients who receive Medicare coverage by providing them access to the new and innovative technologies they need for a better quality of life. It will also allow the manufacturers to bring their devices to the public sooner.