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CMS-1403-FC
75 percent of all ESRD drug expenditures. Moreover, this
effect could distort our estimate of per patient
utilization growth in CY 2009. Since CY 2007, we have
analyzed 2 years of historical claims data for estimating
growth in utilization (CY 2005 and CY 2006). During that
period, utilization based on an analysis of independent
ESRD facility drug data has indicated no growth. We
believe the use of CY 2005 and CY 2006 drug data is the
best data available for use in projecting utilization in
CY 2009. Therefore, for CY 2009, we will continue to use
our estimate of growth in utilization based on CY 2005 and
CY 2006 data (72 FR 66282). That is, we are finalizing an
estimation of no growth in utilization for CY 2009.
2. Applying the Proposed Growth Update to the Drug Add-on
Adjustment
In the CY 2007 PFS final rule with comment period
(71 FR 69684), we revised our update methodology by
applying the growth update to the per treatment drug add-on
amount. That is, for CY 2007, we applied the growth update
factor of 4.03 percent to the $18.88 per treatment drug
add-on amount for an updated amount of $19.64 per treatment
(71 FR 69684). For CY 2008, the per treatment drug add-on
amount was updated to $20.33.
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