Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services News
SCAI Applauds CMS Decision to Continue Coverage of Cardiac CT Scans
WASHINGTON,
CMS will maintain its national coverage decision for this important tool for detecting heart disease. Coverage will continue to be determined by local contractors though the local coverage determination (LCD) process or on a case-by-case basis.
"We are pleased to see CMS decided to make no changes to its coverage of this important tool for diagnosing coronary artery disease," said
SCAI was one of six professional medical societies that urged CMS to reconsider plans to review its coverage policy for CTA. On
The agency had been considering limiting Medicare coverage for CTA to symptomatic patients with chronic stable angina at intermediate risk of coronary artery disease or symptomatic patients with unstable angina at a low risk of short-term death and intermediate risk of coronary artery disease. CMS had proposed that only patients enrolled in clinical studies could receive Medicare payment for these clinical indications. Under the proposed plan, all other uses of cardiac CTA for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (including screening) would have not been covered.
"Allowing continued payment for CTA under the existing local coverage determinations is great news for our patients," said John McB. Hodgson, M.D., FSCAI, past SCAI president. "In the past year many clinical trials have documented the accuracy, prognostic value, and cost-effectiveness of CTA for rapidly diagnosing coronary artery disease. The CMS decision will allow further scientific study to continue at an even more rapid pace, and strengthens our position that this technology should be available for all patients."
About SCAI
Headquartered in
SOURCE The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
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