CMS Maintains NOPAIN Act Eligibility for ON‑Q* and AmbIT* Infusion Pumps; Adds Game Ready* in 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Avanos (NYSE: AVNS) announced that CMS' 2026 OPPS/ASC Final Rule maintains separate NOPAIN Act Medicare payment for the Avanos ON-Q and ambIT infusion pumps and adds Game Ready GRPro 2.1 effective Jan. 1, 2026.
CMS assigned unique HCPCS codes and published payment limits of $2,008.72 for ON-Q and ambIT, and $1,997.16 for Game Ready when medically necessary and used with a covered surgical procedure.
Positive
- CMS confirmed continued separate Medicare payment for ON-Q infusion pump under the NOPAIN Act
- CMS confirmed continued separate Medicare payment for ambIT electronic infusion pump under the NOPAIN Act
- CMS added Game Ready GRPro 2.1 to qualifying products effective Jan. 1, 2026
- CMS published brand-specific HCPCS codes and payment limits (~$2,000) for each qualified device
Negative
- Game Ready payment limit ($1,997.16) is slightly lower than ON-Q/ambIT ($2,008.72)
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
AVNS gained 1.13% with modestly above-average volume. Among close peers, OFIX rose 2.13%, BVS 3.79%, CTKB 3.2%, while SIBN fell 1.15% and ZIMV was flat. Mixed peer moves and a sector scanner flag of false suggest the reaction was more company-specific to this CMS/NOPAIN update than a broad devices rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 | Strategic collaboration | Positive | +0.1% | Co-marketing agreement with Siemens to integrate RFA with imaging systems. |
| Jan 07 | Conference appearance | Positive | +4.8% | JP Morgan Healthcare Conference presentation increasing investor visibility. |
| Nov 05 | Earnings update | Negative | -5.7% | Q3 2025 net loss and prior goodwill impairment despite raised guidance. |
| Oct 27 | Earnings call setup | Neutral | -0.8% | Announcement of upcoming Q3 2025 results conference call and webcast. |
| Oct 23 | Business divestiture | Neutral | -0.3% | Agreement to sell US Game Ready orthopedic rental business with supply deal. |
Recent AVNS news events have mostly produced modest, directionally aligned price moves, with larger reactions around earnings and major conferences.
Over the last few months, Avanos reported Q3 2025 results with modest sales growth but a net loss and prior $77.0M goodwill impairment, which coincided with a -5.66% move. Strategic updates included a co‑marketing deal with Siemens Healthineers and the sale of the US Game Ready orthopedic rental business, both with limited price impact. The JP Morgan conference appearance in Jan 2026 drew a stronger +4.79% reaction, suggesting investors respond more to visibility and financial disclosures than routine news. Today’s CMS/NOPAIN decision fits into this pattern of targeted, operationally focused catalysts.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement confirms that ON‑Q and ambIT infusion pumps will retain separate Medicare payment under the NOPAIN Act and that Game Ready GRPro 2.1 will join them starting Jan. 1, 2026. CMS set payment limits of $2,008.72 for ON‑Q and ambIT and $1,997.16 for Game Ready under OPPS/ASC. Investors may track how this reimbursement support ties into Avanos’s pain management strategy, prior Game Ready portfolio changes, and upcoming earnings updates.
Key Terms
medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (opps) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The NOPAIN Act, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act (CAA), 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), is designed to expand patient access to non-opioid drugs and devices used for post-operative pain management in Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD) and ASC settings paid under OPPS. The legislation directs Medicare to provide separate payment for qualifying non-opioid pain management treatments, helping ensure that clinicians and patients have access to effective non-opioid alternatives after surgery. In the calendar year (CY) 2026 final rule, CMS confirmed that Game Ready* GRPro 2.1 cryo-pneumatic compression pain management system meets qualifying requirements for separate payment under the NOPAIN Act, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The Avanos ON-Q* elastomeric infusion pump and the Avanos ambit* electronic infusion pump - both non-opioid pain management delivery systems – will continue to receive separate payment under the NOPAIN Act as originally qualified in Jan. 2025. HOPDs and ASCs that use these products for post-surgical pain management will continue to receive separate Medicare payment under OPPS in addition to the payment for covered surgical procedures.
The ON-Q elastomeric and ambIT electronic infusion pumps were validated by CMS as treatments that can effectively replace or reduce postoperative opioid use, supported by clinical trial evidence and peer-reviewed research. The Game Ready GRPro 2.1 system was also validated by CMS as a cryo-pneumatic compression therapy used to reduce pain and swelling following surgery, supported by clinical research. These innovative non-opioid devices offer clinicians proven alternatives to traditional opioid-based pain management, helping to improve patient outcomes while reducing reliance on opioids after surgery.
Both ON-Q and ambIT infusion delivery systems each have a unique, brand-specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code eligible for separate payment in the HOPD and ASC settings. Game Ready GRPro 2.1 has also been assigned a unique, brand-specific HCPCS code (C9817) eligible for separate payment in the HOPD and ASC settings when medical necessity criteria and all other requirements are met. The payment limitation calculated and published by CMS is
"We applaud CMS for recognizing the value of ON‑Q and ambIT pumps and the Game Ready system under the NOPAIN Act," said Dave Pacitti, CEO of Avanos Medical. "This decision reinforces CMS' commitment to expanding patient access to safe, effective, non‑opioid pain management options. We remain dedicated to partnering with clinicians and policymakers to advance proven solutions that help reduce opioid dependence and improve recovery outcomes."
For more information on ON-Q elastomeric infusion pump, ambIT electronic infusion pumps, and Game Ready GRPro 2.1 cryopneumatic compression device inclusion under the NOPAIN Act, please click here: Avanos NOPAIN Act.
For inquiries regarding the NOPAIN Act, contact our Market Access and Reimbursement Team at reimbursement@avanos.com.
To view the Final Rule in its entirety, visit the Federal Register.
About Avanos Medical
Avanos Medical (NYSE: AVNS) is a medical technology company focused on delivering clinically superior medical device solutions that will help patients get back to what matters. Headquartered in Alpharetta,
*Registered Trademark or Trademark of Avanos Medical, Inc., or its affiliates. © 2018-2026 AVNS. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE Avanos Medical
FAQ
What did CMS decide about Avanos ON-Q and ambIT pumps for 2026 (NYSE: AVNS)?
Is Game Ready GRPro 2.1 eligible for separate Medicare payment in 2026 for AVNS?
What are the CMS payment limits for Avanos devices under the NOPAIN Act in 2026?
How does the NOPAIN Act rule affect hospital outpatient and ASC billing for AVNS devices?
Why did CMS validate ON-Q, ambIT, and Game Ready for separate payment for AVNS?
