Sight Sciences Applauds Medicare Contractors' Decision on MIGS LCDs

Sight Sciences expressed its support for the decision made by five Medicare Administrative Contractors to withdraw their previously announced final local coverage determinations (LCDs) for Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, originally slated to become effective on January 29, 2024.

The five MACs—WPS Government Health Administrators, Palmetto GBA, Celerian Group Company, National Government Services, and Noridian Healthcare Solutions—had initially issued LCDs on MIGS, designating specific procedures as investigational for managing glaucoma in patients aged 18 and older. This included canaloplasty in conjunction with trabeculotomy ab interno, a procedural description linked to the Company’s OMNI Surgical System.

All five MACs have subsequently declared that the final LCDs will not be implemented on January 29, 2024. Consequently, there will be no alteration in Medicare coverage for MIGS procedures conducted using the OMNI Surgical System in January 2024.

“We appreciate that the MACs and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services carefully and thoughtfully considered all stakeholder concerns with the LCDs and the serious potential risks to patient health and access to effective glaucoma care,” said Paul Badawi, co-founder and CEO of Sight Sciences.

“We look forward to continued engagement with the MACs and CMS to ensure glaucoma patients and their physicians maintain appropriate and fair access to medically reasonable and necessary MIGS procedures and technology. We would like to thank the many passionate glaucoma surgeons around the country and the national and state eye care societies including notably the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society, who all worked collaboratively and tirelessly to provide valuable and critical feedback to the MACs, CMS, and Congressional offices during this rigorous review process. Additionally, we appreciate the support from the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) and numerous patient advocacy groups,” Paul Badawi added.