April 24, 2006, As reported by the OSN Supersite: AAO supports Medicare coverage for off-label Avastin use SAN FRANCISCO — A drug being used off-label for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration should be considered for Medicare coverage, said the American Academy of Ophthalmology . According to an AAO press release, the organization sent a letter to U.S. regulators supporting Medicare reimbursement for the drug. AAO said in its letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that it “supports reimbursement for treating AMD with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, to meet the medical needs of many patients who have not responded to therapy with ocular photodynamic therapy with verteporfin or intravitreal pegaptanib.” Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) is approved in the United States for the systemic treatment of colorectal cancer. The intravitreal dosage is being used by “a large number” of retinal specialists who believe it is “reasonable and medically necessary ...