CMS Approved New Add-On Payment for Spine System
Hospitals treating Medicare patients with the icotec CMORE CT System will soon qualify for additional reimbursement.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Healthcare
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a New Technology Add-On Payment for the icotec CMORE CT System, a device used for spinal infection treatment. This change allows hospitals to secure extra reimbursement for using the carbon/PEEK-based hardware on traditional Medicare patients.
Why it matters
This approval shifts the financial calculus for hospitals evaluating spinal hardware by offsetting the costs of the icotec system. By providing this add-on payment, regulators aim to facilitate wider adoption of the technology for Medicare-covered procedures.
The CMORE CT System, which received federal Breakthrough Device Designation in April 2025, is now eligible for supplemental payments to support its clinical use. The total financial impact remains subject to hospital-specific Medicare volume and billing patterns.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency responsible for administering the Medicare program and setting hospital reimbursement policies.
icotec
A medical device company specializing in carbon/PEEK composite technology for spine surgery.
The details
The CMORE CT System utilizes carbon/PEEK material to provide posterior stabilization for the cervicothoracic spine. Hospitals can leverage the New Technology Add-On Payment program to recover expenses for this specific product, which was previously granted Breakthrough Device Designation for its application in treating spinal infections.
Timeline
April 2025: The CMORE CT System received Breakthrough Device Designation.
October 1, 2026: The New Technology Add-On Payment became effective.
October 6, 2026: CMS announced the approval of the payment status.
Market Landscape
The CMS New Technology Add-On Payment program is designed to bridge the reimbursement gap for medical innovations, and this approval follows the established pattern for cleared spinal hardware. This move integrates the icotec system into the broader Medicare coverage framework for specialized surgical equipment.
Hospital administrators and procurement managers should update their Medicare billing protocols to reflect the new payment eligibility for the icotec CMORE CT System starting October 1, 2026. This adjustment provides a pathway to recoup technology acquisition costs that were previously categorized as standard surgical expenses.
The takeaway
The addition of this system to the CMS payment schedule highlights the importance of pursuing federal breakthrough designations to lower adoption hurdles for providers. Managers should track new NTAP determinations quarterly, as these approvals directly alter the ROI of equipment procurement decisions.
Further reading
For broader trends in medical device reimbursement and clinical adoption, visit Healthcare.
More information
To review the specifications of the authorized hardware, visit the icotec product information website.
Live Poll
Should government health programs provide extra payments to hospitals for using newly approved medical technologies?
