Proposed Local Coverage Determination: Contractor Advisory Committee Meetings
Meetings on the Horizon
We are seeking nominations for subject matter experts to participate in an upcoming Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting scheduled for January 21, 2027, focused on molecular infectious disease testing. CAC members serve in an advisory capacity and provide expert input regarding the quality, interpretation, strengths, limitations, and applicability of the available evidence, including areas of uncertainty and evidence gaps.
The primary focus of the CAC review will be the clinical validity of molecular infectious disease testing and the strength of the evidence supporting diagnostic performance, including the ability of test results to accurately identify clinically relevant infectious disease states and distinguish infection from colonization, contamination, or asymptomatic carriage. Panelists will be asked to objectively evaluate and interpret the evidence supporting test performance and its applicability to the Medicare population. Final coverage determinations remain the responsibility of the MACs, and the CAC's role is limited to providing expert input on the available evidence, its interpretation, and its applicability to the Medicare population.
We are particularly interested in nominations of individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Medical microbiology
- Molecular pathology
- Infectious diseases
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Diagnostic test utilization
Discussion may include topics such as:
- Evidence supporting the clinical validity of molecular infectious disease testing
- Interpretation of positive molecular findings
- Study design and methodological considerations relevant to the assessment of diagnostic performance
- Sources of bias, uncertainty, and limitations in the available evidence
- Evidence gaps and areas requiring further study
- Distinguishing infection from colonization, contamination, or asymptomatic carriage
- Interpretation of discordant molecular and conventional testing results
- Antimicrobial stewardship and patient-centered outcomes
- Applicability of the evidence to the Medicare population
If you and/or a colleague are knowledgeable in this topic particularly with utilization of molecular infectious disease testing, have experience critically evaluating literature, and would like to be considered for selection as a CAC expert panelist, please send an email along with your/their name, contact information, and your/their Curriculum Vitae (CV) to: medicalaffairs@guidewellsource.com.
For additional information on volunteering as a CAC member and assisting in the development of Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), please visit our webpage.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Current Meeting
CAC meetings are held to obtain advice about the strength of published evidence for a specific topic from our CAC members and experienced healthcare professionals.
*CAC meeting dates, locations, times, and topics are subject to change.
CAC meeting registration is currently not available. Registration will open approximately two (2) weeks prior to the next meeting. Please watch here for meeting details and registration for the next meeting to be posted.
| Date* | Attendees | Location* | Time* | Agenda | Bibliography | Questions | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | CAC members, stakeholders, and other interested parties | Webinar only | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | Will be opened two weeks prior to the next meeting |
All CAC members as well as the public (non-CAC members) are welcome to attend via webinar.
The CAC provides a formal mechanism for healthcare professionals to be informed of the evidence used in developing the local coverage determination (LCD) and promotes communication between the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and the healthcare community. CAC members will serve in an advisory capacity as representatives of their constituency to review the quality of the evidence used in the development of an LCD. The final decision on all issues rests with the Contractor Medical Directors (CMDs).
The CAC is used to supplement the MAC’s internal expertise and to ensure an unbiased and contemporary consideration of “state of the art” technology and science.
Please read our CAC Meeting Fact Sheet for more details.
Information on CACs can be found in the CMS Internet-Only Manual (IOM) Publication (Pub.) 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 13
Want to get involved? Volunteer as a CAC member or submit clinical literature or practice guidelines / standards you would like us to consider.
CAC Meeting Minutes
All CAC meetings will be recorded. You may listen to the audio recording and/or read the written transcript for prior meetings here.